School spirit is at an all-time high during high school football season, and some of the athletes leading the charge aren’t on the field — they’re on the sidelines.

They’re the high school cheerleaders of Frisco ISD, and their bright, cheerful spirit can make even a longshot win seem possible.

Cheer teams do much more than keep the energy up during high school football games, though that’s a big job — they’re also supporting volleyball and basketball teams, learning choreography, competing at the state level, visiting feeder campuses, practicing pep rally routines and much more.

But who cheers the cheerleaders? Forty-three high school cheer captains supporting their teams — both figuratively and literally.

“The captains are our right hands,” said Cheyanne Giles, cheer coach at Emerson High School. “They set the tone for practice, events and the season. They encourage their teammates to get good grades, lift the mood when it's heavy and serve as a role model for younger girls and their peers, too.”

At a recent Emerson cheer practice, the three captains showed what that leadership looks like, watching, critiquing and demonstrating gravity-defying stunts to a team of 36 cheerleaders; leading routines, then watching their teammates perform and sharing feedback; and consulting with their coach.

But cheer is about more than routines and competition. It’s about determination, athleticism and teamwork. When one student is missing, the team doesn’t work the same.

Captains keep that team together.

“It takes a really special person to fill this role and do it correctly,” said Lexi Reese, Lone Star High School cheer coach. “It's a very time-consuming job and comes with so much more than just the ‘title’ that a lot of others want it for.”

That work is all worth it, says one of her captains, and makes the cheer experience even better.

“My favorite part about cheer is discovering what I’m truly capable of and pushing myself past my limits,” junior Amya Hall said. “You are surrounded by coaches who believe in you and teammates that support you no matter what.

“You don't have to do it alone.”

Check out a slideshow featuring each of the 2026-27 high school cheer captains below or directly at this link.

Centennial

Cheer coach: Allison (Ally) Blackburn

Captains: Lindsey Palmer, Peyton Brandstetter, Clarice Clay and Megan Diehl

Emerson

Cheer coach: Cheyanne Giles

Captains: Gianna Lipsky, Natalia Padron and Caroline Plourde

Frisco

Cheer coach: Gabriela (Gabby) Alvarado Garcia

Captains: Maggie Erickson, Keira Christopherson, Bella Cai and Sophia Morton

Heritage

Cheer coach: Maggie Ward

Captains: Sophie Huntley, Rylie Girty, Harlow Murrell and Namitha Reddibathini

Independence

Cheer coach: Christyann Montgomery

Captains: Nyla Miles and Addison Ungaro

Lebanon Trail

Cheer coach: Sydney Wright

Captains: Nora Dunham, Valerie Knox, Mari Adams, Jovi Boyer and Penelope Puente

Liberty

Cheer coach: Kandy Stevens

Captains: Lila Johns, Georgia Jackson, Hannah Traxler and Kaitlin Ramsey

Lone Star

Cheer coach: Lexi Reese

Captains: Taylor Holtz, Leighton Davis and Amya Hall

Memorial

Cheer coach: Lauren Renshaw

Captains: Kamilah Chavez and Chelsea Evans

Panther Creek

Cheer coach: Lexi Pittman

Captains: Alexis Astorga, Camdyn Cossell and Sage Grubb

Reedy

Cheer coach: Sara Wells

Captains: Mason Myers, Hailey Zurlis, Landry Silas and Jake Guitteau

Wakeland

Cheer coach: Kristina Steinhauser

Captains: Finley Ginsbach, Caily Quach, Lucy Bisson, Channing Embry and Jacie Foster

- Rachel McReynolds