STATE CHEER COMPETITION THIS WEEK | ETBlitz will be on hand as area cheer teams compete Thursday, Friday (w/ VIDEO)
Cheerleaders from all across the state, including our own ETBlitz.com coverage area, will be in Fort Worth this week for the University Interscholastic League’s state spirit competition, crowning the top high school cheer teams in the state.
ETBlitz.com covered the UIL’s state spirit competition last year, and we’ll be there again this year: photographer / videographer Jacob Lucas and correspondent Kennedi Johnson are both at the Fort Worth Convention Center for coverage. You also may very well see a few team videos scattered on our site and our social media in the next few days, shot by the teams and coaches themselves.
For those who need it and plan on going, the convention center address is 1201 Houston Street, Fort Worth, 76102.
Here’s a link for the event, straight to the UIL site: Spirit — University Interscholastic League (UIL). Also at that link is the state cheer program.
Doors are open to spectators all three days, Thursday (6:45 a.m.), Friday and Saturday (7:15 a.m. both days). Five and younger are admitted free; tickets for all other spectators are $15 each, and there’s no cash accepted at the gate; all tickets are digital and can be purchased here for day one: Day 1 – 2026 UIL Spirit State Championships (Coed, 1A, 2A DI, 2A DII, 3A DI & 3A DII) | uiltexas Box Office
Here for day two: Day 2 – 2026 UIL Spirit State Championships (4A DI, 4A DII) (5A DI & 5A DII Qualifying Rounds) | uiltexas Box Office
Here for day three: Day 3 – 2026 UIL Spirit State Championships (5A DI & DII State Championships) (6A DI & 6A DII) | uiltexas Box Office
And here, a pass for the entire event: 2026 UIL Spirit State Championships – All Session Pass | uiltexas Box Office.
Parking is free after 6 p.m., and here’s a list of garages participating for the competition: Parking – Get Around – Downtown Fort Worth.
Concessions will be available throughout the event, and cash and card options are available there.
For anyone who can’t go, the NFHS Network will be carrying the event here: University Interscholastic League (UIL) Spirit. There is a subscription fee, although you can cancel at any time.
All 1A, 2A and 3A cheer teams will compete on Thursday; 4A and 5A programs will compete on Friday; and 6A programs compete Saturday. Here is a list of competition times: 2026 UIL Order of Performance FINAL 1.12.26.xlsx.
With so many teams competing, things could run ahead or behind.
Competing at the 2A-Division I level are the Beckville High School Bearcat cheerleaders.
This year’s Beckville squad: Seniors Rebecca McDaniel and Aubrey Akin; juniors Kylie Smith, Kirsten Pierce, Alyssa Blank, Aaden King, Israel Phillips and Sharon Barboza; sophomores Landrie Dennard, Tyler Smith, Allie Kelley, Brilee Brumley and Tobi Tucker; and freshmen Chloe Darnell, Reese Weaver, Scarlett Johnson, Maddie Darnell, and Hailey Mauritzen. They’re coached by Lori Darnell and Jennifer Tucker.
Sabine cheer will compete in 3A-DI. Seniors for the Cardinals are Kattlin Akers, Kaegan Boaze, Hollie Boone, Madisyn Davis, Landry Griffith, Reese Silvertooth and Avery Williams. Juniors are Brookelyn Henigan, Jayda Lewis, Sarah Roberts and Marlie Roper. Calli Clifford, Mia Kaufman, Addison Ketteman, Addie Moses, Ja’Miya Texada and Lainey Thurston are sophomores on the team, and Sydney Heffner, Lauren Love, and Rylie McNatt make up the freshmen class. Coaches are Jennifer Wood and Emily Barr.
Also competing at 3A-DI: the Gladewater Bears cheerleaders, coached by Claudia Barnhill and Samantha King. Seniors this year for Gladewater cheer are Alayah Gordon, Peyton Hunter and Garrett Kegarise. Kymorah Gordon, Janiyah Strickland and Olivia Miller are juniors. Sophomores this year are Lainey Reynolds and Garrett Kegarise, and freshmen are Jay Starks, Ashlynn Tolbert, Victoria Flanagan, Ellicia Mendez, Makenzie Floyd, Daelyn Bradshaw, Kylie Beall and Tinsley Aldridge.
Also in the mix in 3A-DI from the ETBlitz.com area are the Tatum High School Eagles, coached by Tammy Holder and Kim Permenter. Seniors for the Eagles: Winter Taylor, Shaelynn Hicks, Ryleigh Harvey, Libby Perry, Leah Fletcher, Koree Dudley, Jodryn Murphy and Aedyn Taczek. Tatum’s juniors are Lexie Ford, Jasmin Salas, Elyana Hill and Jamyah Butler. Sophomores are Ally Austyn Anthony, Taliyah Dixon, Jacey Yoder and Baylee Pruitt, and freshmen are Mary Cook, Logan Thorn, Kumora Chatman, Hannah Minor, KiZeyah Stephenson, Avery Fields-Polk, Addison Smith, Aaliyah Williams and Arleth Zarco.
Arp and Troup will both be a part of the 3A-DII competition.
Arp is coached by Elizabeth Johnson, and the Tigers cheerleaders this year are seniors Breanna Golden, Marissa Vanover, Lucy Hopson, Lilyana Hooper, and Jaycee McCollum; juniors Kelsie Cole, Kylee Maxwell, Heidi Bryand, and Emma Harris; sophomores Gracey Nichols, Cortlynn Quinalty, Kinley Schminkey, Addison Rhoades and Skylar Wallace; and freshmen Ashlyn Poe, Railey Ward, Bailey Graham and C’Nyah Walker.
For Troup, coaches Mandy Lovelady, Brittany Anderson, Meagan Davenport and Angie Howard will lead the Tigers. Seniors for Troup this year are Kaylee Almazan, Addison Blanton, Tayla Davis, Audree Hinkle, Sophie Skinner and Kambry Nelson. Juniors are Adalyne Burks, Bailey Darden, Wylie Green, Nate Howell, Molleigh Nord, and Lili Priest. Sophomores are Olivia Anderson, Peyton Boyd, Elaine Howard, Mckenzie May, and Mariyah Pullins; and freshmen are Kari Cover, Dakota Davenport, Ayleigh Johnston, Kasyn McGee, and Molly Ward.
Henderson, Kilgore and Pine Tree will all compete at the 4A-DI level.
Henderson’s Lions are coached by Catie Rainwater, Bethany McClure, and Caprice Stoute. Seniors for the Lions are Elizabeth Byrd, Preslie Costlow, Olivia Crockett, and Anna Kate Mansinger. Juniors are Brooklynn Burks, Josephine Erwert, Greenlee Goodwin, Kyla Lewis, Trinity Mapps and Jenna Poole. Sophomores are Kate Bromley, Payten Evans, Danielle Herring, Sofia Howard, Peyton Jackson, Karis Lee, Nallely Lopez, and Stella Rains, and the freshmen are Taylor Higginbotham, Kloe Lingo, Charlotte McGinnis, and Emmi Sartain.
Representing the Kilgore Bulldogs will be seniors Lydiah Allison, Sole Hunt, Adalynn Martinez, Addison VanZandt, Carsyn McKinney, Zoey Johnson, and Ava Henry; juniors Kailynn Bullock, Aspen Gaudet, Maegan Harvey, Lauryn Hok, Vivienne Wright, Emersyn Beets, and Stormy Reyes; sophomores Allie Hendrix, Leiken Murphy, Camila Vaenzuela, and Brooklyn Vercher; and freshmen Savannah Herring, Adeline McKinney, Jayci Moore, Anna Gillen-Hall, Ellie Copeland, and Kerrington Bell. KHS cheer coaches are Saidie Hamblen and Gracie Clower.
Seniors for Pine Tree cheer are Jasmine Byrd, Zori Clark, Hannah Cranford, Desiree Ellis, Raeleigh Normandin, and Bailey Robles. Juniors are Debany Cuevas, I’Monyae Black, Demi Fults, Journii Hopkins, and Chloe Steelman. Sophomores are Mya Blaylock, Bailey DeHart, Madisyn Florence, Elizabeth Grimes, Jazyah Jackson, Natalyah Neal, Bristol Sessions, Clara Tesser, and Addyson Schave, and freshmen are Victoria Alvarez, Lily Dodson, Brooklyn Nash, Aubrey Porterfield, Blair Schroeder, Auzlyn Willis, and Adilyn Upson.
Carthage and Gilmer will both compete at 4A-DI.
Coach Tina Marion’s Carthage Bulldogs seniors are Lexi Ladymon and Madison Powell. Juniors are Alivia Griffin, Kirsten Haggerty, Kilee Johnson, Caroline Lawrence, Reegan Robinson, Ava Kate Shull, Jaleah Williams and Hudsyn Wulfe. Sophomores are Chloe Borseth, Alivia Cheshire, Kylie Dunn, Zoe Gomez, Ally Sells, and Gracie Stephens, and freshmen are Addi Faith Bagley, Claire Carter, Adaline Cole, Mikayla Dean, Rilee Harvey, and Kennedy Ross.
And representing Gilmer High School will be seniors Hannah Bockmon, Gracelyn Head, Elie Richins, Jayna Rucker, and Karsyn Turnbow; juniors Seth Thomas, Laurel Lee, Lexi Hancock, Laynee Hall, Sophia Dean, Shelby Cominsky and Brylee Bowman; sophomores Ashlie Acy, Adalynne Dodd, Karsyn Pate, Blaklee Riley, Millie Sanchez and Kaelyn Williams; and freshmen Paisley Aiken, Isabella Escareno, Brentley Jones, and Cameron Nation. Gilmer’s coaches are Carly Riley and Serina Head.