Five weeks before the state competition, the cheer team’s coaches abruptly quit, striking a significant blow to the team’s morale and preparation. At first, the cheerleaders had a lot of difficulties to sort through. Yet, despite the setback, the team placed at the state competition and found a new coach, business teacher Morgan Wadlow.

     “There were struggles, whether that was between the cheerleaders and the staff,” sophomore Brianna Walling said. “The coaches just weren’t fit for West Albany.”      

     They had worked hard all season, and the thought of not having a coach to guide them through the final stretch was difficult, according to Walling However, they knew they had to band together and find a way to persevere. 

     “Our first practice without a coach went really smoothly because a couple senior girls ran it,” Walling said. “It felt rather positive and motivating, more than it was with our old coaches. Just a better environment overall.”

      Meanwhile, the administration began the process of finding a new coach. Both Walling and athletic director Don Lien declined to share the reason the coaches gave for quitting mid-season. Lien  scoured the area for someone with experience, skill, and the ability to motivate the team. After a thorough search, they finally found a candidate who seemed to fit the bill. 

     “We were blessed to get business teacher Morgan Wadlow. And the other nice thing about getting Morgan, she is permanently the head coach and she understands our traditions and what school expectations are for athletes and their performances,” Lien said. “She is passionate about the sport, getting to know the parents, and starting spring practices.”

     Coaching alongside Wadlow is former Crescent Valley coach Savannah Lancaster, who came in as an assistant coach. “Both Wadlow and her are  co-head coaches and were able to put together choreography for our state routine to save the season,” Lien said. 

     It wasn’t just the new coach who was motivating the cheerleaders. The cheerleaders have formed a tight bond over the years, and they were determined to make the most of the situation and utilize it in a way that would strengthen their community.

    “When they left, it brought us closer together because when the coaches were there, we didn’t get along,” junior Lily Peña said. “Once they left, we realized they were a big part in why we didn’t get along, but now we bonded out of that and got together as a team more.”

     They continued to hold their own practices, encouraging each other and providing feedback. They knew that they had to work harder than ever before if they wanted to succeed, and they were up for the challenge.

     In the end, all of their hard work paid off. The cheerleaders performed at the state competition. When the scores were tallied, the team had placed fifth out of 14 teams. 

     “For what we had, we placed pretty well and with the new coaches’ help, too. It was really motivating knowing we placed fifth overall and just knowing that hey, no matter what the circumstances, we did amazing for what we had,” Walling said.

     The cheerleaders were thrilled with their performance, but they knew that they couldn’t have done it without each other. They had faced adversity and still succeeded, and they were proud of what they had accomplished. The new coach had been instrumental in their success, providing them with the guidance and motivation they needed to excel, according to Lein. But ultimately, it was the team’s own determination and dedication that had carried them through.

     The experience of the cheerleading team losing their coach just five weeks before their state competition was a challenging one, but it ultimately led to a positive outcome. With new permanent head coach Wadlow, there will be greater challenges ahead opening up new adventures for the kids and possibly opening a new JV team according to Lein.