East Mississippi Community College announces 2023-24 cheerleading team

SCOOBA — The East Mississippi Community College cheerleading team for the 2023-24 academic year has been announced by EMCC cheer coach Danielle McDade.

This year's 20-person EMCC cheerleading squad will consist of six returning team members, two other returning EMCC students, and 12 newcomers to the Scooba campus. The half dozen returning team members consist of former prep teammates Jayden Lathem and Gracie McDill from Sebastopol High School, along with Cameron Cagle (West Lauderdale HS), Sarah Gunter (Clarkdale HS), Alyissia Joseph (Louisville HS), and Stazyon Robinson (Starkville HS).

The pair of sophomores who will be participating as first-year cheer team members for the Lions during the 2023-24 academic year are former EMCC softball players Avery Luke, out of Kemper Academy, and Laurel's Kelsey Odom.

EMCC's collection of 12 newcomers to the Scooba campus includes former Neshoba Central High School teammates Chloe Kirkland and Mary Williams. Freshman Braylee Johnson joins her former Kemper Academy classmate (Luke), while Precious Stone, out of Kemper County High School, will also stay close to home. Starkville High School's Jada Harris will be reunited with a fellow SHS Yellow Jacket (Robinson), and Amiya Goodwin becomes an EMCC Lion after graduating from Starkville Academy in 2022. Rounding out EMCC's incoming freshman cheer team members are Kylie Brown (Choctaw County HS), Taylor Lewis (Southeast Lauderdale HS), Kymiah McCann (Magee HS), Makenna Reesor (Hancock HS), Joslyn Turner (Northeast Lauderdale HS), and Kristian Weatherby (Columbus HS).  

Completing East Mississippi's 2023-24 spirit squad will be freshman Jamario Payton, who follows in the footsteps of fellow Choctaw County High School product Scottlan McNutt as EMCC's Leo the Lion mascot.