On January 23, 2026, the Star Valley Brave Cadettes and Star Valley Cheerleaders traveled to the Ford Event Center in Casper, Wyoming, to compete in the WHSAA State Championships. Both teams represented Star Valley High School with pride, determination, and strong school spirit as they competed against teams from across the state. While the outcome was not exactly what everyone hoped for, the Braves left a lasting impression through their performances, sportsmanship, and unity.
The Star Valley Cheerleaders competed in both Game Day and All-Girl stunt routines and delivered what many considered a flawless performance. Cheer coach Faith Lewis praised the team, saying, “They performed an absolutely flawless routine, received zero deductions and were complimented by virtually every team and coach in attendance.” Lewis also emphasized that the routine included difficulty levels “untouched by other teams.” Despite the final placement, the team earned the Sportsmanship Award for the second year in a row, an honor Lewis said made her “endlessly proud of them for their hearts.”
Cheer captains shared similar feelings of pride and appreciation for their team. Senior captain Kesslie Turner said, “We all committed and truly did our best out there and I couldn’t be more happy to end my senior year that way.” Dallas Erickson reflected on the team’s growth, stating, “We have all had our ups and downs, but we all have the best support system within each other.” Jenna Suter added that while the scores were disappointing, “that doesn’t mean it was a bad performance or a bad state,” and she noted that the Sportsmanship Award was “worth more than any trophy in my eyes.”
The Star Valley Brave Cadettes also had a successful weekend, earning fifth place in 4A Hip Hop after an impressive performance. Dance coach Kyli Scherbel shared how hard the team worked, explaining, “They chose to do the hard things this year and it totally paid off.” She highlighted the challenge of learning new choreography just weeks before state and praised the bond the team formed through the process. Dance captain Mady Mosgeller echoed this pride, saying, “I am so proud of how this team came together and created a second family for all of us.”
Activities Director Kyle McClain reflected on the overall experience, emphasizing growth over results. He said, “Through ups and downs during the season, our Braves stuck together and performed so well on the biggest stage.” While state competition is always demanding, both the cheer and dance teams proved that success comes from perseverance, teamwork, and character. Star Valley High School has much to be proud of after a memorable state season.
