The East Mississippi Community College cheerleading team for the 2025-26 academic year has been announced, and Starkville is well represented.
Under head cheer coach Sarah Thompson’s first-year guidance, this year’s 19-person EMCC cheerleading squad will consist of four returning team members, three first-year sophomore cheer members and 12 incoming freshmen. The four returners are sophomores Tyler Carter (Oak Hill Academy), Armani Hunter, Huy Le (Starkville), and Carlee Parker.
Alcorn State University transfer Erin Dawson and Asia Price, both 2024 Starkville High School graduates, as well as Noxubee County High School grad Skylar Erving make up EMCC’s incoming sophomore trio who will be participating as first-year cheer team members for the Lions during the 2025-26 academic year.
With seven of EMCC’s 19 cheerleaders hailing from Starkville-area prep cheer programs, the SHS Yellow Jackets have also sent incoming freshmen Camille Morgan and Zoie Williams to the Scooba campus. In addition, the Starkville Academy tandem of Hannah Cain and Cora Beth Robertson has joined the East Mississippi Lions for the upcoming academic year.
EMCC’s 2025-26 freshman class of cheerleaders will also consist of former Winston Academy cheer teammates Josh Kelley and Marly McMillan, in addition to Meridian-area products Semya Brewster and Shaniya Finley, Xylan Cox of Mendenhall, Brookhaven’s Kyla Smith, and Ty’Lecia Lemon of Grenada.
“I’m really excited for this season. Coach (Danielle) McDade selected such a wonderful and talented team,” said Thompson, who was named EMCC’s new cheer coach in late July following McDade’s retirement from the position to concentrate on her full-time duties as EMCC’s psychology instructor for the Scooba campus.
“It’s such a fun experience watching these student-athletes come from all different backgrounds to work towards one goal. We’ve worked hard this past week and can’t wait for football season,” Thompson added.
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