The Reston South Lakes Cheerleading Squad made history by winning the Liberty Conference Championship. With a team consisting of 24 students, Cheer Coach Becky Slaight is proud of the progress made by this year’s cheerleaders. Photo courtesy of South Lakes Cheerleading Squad
The Reston South Lakes Varsity Cheerleading Squad made history by winning the Liberty Conference Championship. The squad beat out 7 other teams in their conference, including Fairfax High School, which has dominated the title for upwards of 7-10 years. Four South Lakes cheerleaders (Olivia Liddle, Madison Carens, Devon Alessandrino and Anna Workosky) were named to the All-Conference team.
In addition, Cheer Coach Becky Slaight was named Liberty Conference Cheerleading Coach of the Year. Coach Slaight has coached cheerleading for 13 years at South Lakes and gymnastics for 18 years. Slaight remains focused on developing the talents of her team. “It’s not about me, it is about my kids,” says Slaight. A graduate of South Lakes, Slaight says she, “bleeds blue and green.” The team will move on to the Northern Region Finals on Saturday morning at Battlefield High School in Prince William County. South Lakes High will be second in the lineup. Routines will be judged based on score sheets or rubrics, and victory will be guided by practice and repetitions.
This will be South Lakes High School second run at region finals, and many family members and friends are excited. “Cheer is a big passion of mine, and I could not imagine not coaching it,” said Slaight. “I tell people my kids are pound for pound some of the strongest out there. I say come to our practice and see what we do, and you will see that cheerleading is a sport,” said Slaight. Cheerleading’s competitive season ends on Nov. 7.
“I tell people my kids are pound for pound some of the strongest out there. I say come to our practice and see what we do, and you will see that cheerleading is a sport.”
--South Lakes Cheer Coach Becky Slaight
Olivia Liddle, a junior at SLHS, had a background in gymnastics and has since embraced the cheerleading team, becoming a valuable asset. “It was the team atmosphere which sucked her in,” said Slaight. Madison Carens, a senior is enjoying her second year in cheerleading with SLHS.
Devon Alessandrino, a freshman, is described as one of the most talented members of team. “It is great when you get an athlete like that. Devon is in it for the team, and she is very humble and sweet. She helps everybody else step up and come together,” said Slaight. As for sophomore Anna Workosky, “She is so humble and so grounded, you would not guess she has as much talent as she does,” said Slaight. Both Alessandrino and Workosky have experience working at Cheer Tyme, a cheerleading gym which offers a variety of instruction in cheerleading, tumbling and dance.
With a team consisting of 24 students, Slaight is proud of the progress made by this year’s cheerleaders. “Teamwork and support of each other and overall routine have moved them forward,” said Slaight. “They get the whole team aspect, that is what they are doing right now. They are amazing… This group is so special in so many ways. Each and every one of them understands what teamwork means. They work so hard together to create this team, and they have pulled together like no other team I have ever coached,” said Slaight.