The Cincinnati Enquirer introduced a new voting feature for the 2025 high school sports year: The Spirit Award for cheerleaders, dance team members and their squads.
Much like the popular athlete of the week voting, school fans and friends voted on two weekly ballots (individual and team) for The Spirit Award. Only coaches can provide nominations each week, either for their squads or other teams.
Eligible are varsity girls and boys cheerleaders and dancers who exemplify the fruits of the spirit ‒ love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – while uplifting their squads, the student body and others. Team nominations focus on squads that come together to help each other, work hard, do things right that week, show outstanding virtues when dealing with or serving others, exceed expectations to prepare something special for the school or take part in any other honorable reason they might be acknowledged.
The Spirit Award winners for Oct. 3, 2025, are:
Lucy Heringer, Deer Park
According to her coach, Olivia Noland, “This senior demonstrates what it means to be a leader day in and day out. At games, Lucy has an incredible ability to not only engage the crowd but also stay in tune with every element of Friday night football. Whether it’s a shift from offense to defense, a 1st and 10, or the start of a new band song, she is always the first to recognize the moment and guide the team with confidence. Lucy leads not only throughout each game but also takes initiative during practices. I can always count on her to relay information, lead activities, and share her uplifting energy with the squad! We are so grateful to have Lucy on our team!”
Cincinnati Country Day varsity cheerleaders
The Cincinnati Country Day cheerleading program has undergone a complete transformation. With 18 athletes ‒ the largest squad in school history ‒ the team is thriving. What makes this group remarkable is that 13 of the cheerleaders are new to the sport.
“Many of these athletes also balance multiple sports, rigorous academics, and required school clubs, yet they have committed themselves wholeheartedly to building something special for our community. Our squad is incredibly diverse in talents and passions: from a National Champion in karate, a varsity golfer heading to districts, and the lead in the upcoming school musical, to a competitive hunter-jumper equestrian, a studio dancer, and even a fairy in Cincinnati Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty (who also performed as Clara in last year’s Nutcracker). Alongside them are golfers, lacrosse players, softball players, and more multi-sport athletes, each bringing unique strengths and experiences that make this team truly one of a kind,” coach Alicia Wall wrote.
For the first time, the cheer program introduced stunting, tumbling, jumping and dancing. The senior leaders, Nia Irby and Lilly Shafer (also the student council president), have been instrumental in cultivating a culture centered around school spirit and community involvement.
In addition, the squad launched “Flight Crew,” a new student leadership group for the student section, to get fans more engaged across all Upper School sporting events. They’ve also created new social media accounts to teach chants, connect with classmates, and keep the student body energized both on and off the sidelines.
For homecoming and Fall Fest last week, the cheerleaders practiced daily, prepared a halftime routine for the first time, organized games for the student section, and took the lead in energizing the school community. They created more than 200 goodie bags and locker decorations for every fall athlete and Upper School administrator. On game day, they arrived early to welcome Lower and Middle School students with a spirit tunnel, handed out “spirit clips” and spread energy throughout the halls.
At pep rally, they partnered with Lower School cheerleaders to pass out spirit beads and participated in a student-teacher dance. Immediately afterward, the girls volunteered to work at the all-school pre-homecoming game event, Fall Fest, running carnival games, inflatables, face painting and the spirit shack.
Then, they went to the homecoming game, where several cheerleaders opened the game singing the National Anthem with the Upper School choir. The squad brought nonstop energy with interactive games, new chants, stunts, dances, and even a brand-new touchdown celebration. They kept the student section loud and lively from kickoff to the final whistle. The night concluded with a favorite tradition ‒ singing the alma mater with the student section.
“What makes this team’s accomplishments even more impressive is the way they balance it all. Our cheerleaders are not just athletes; they are leaders, performers, and competitors in so many different arenas. From a district-bound golf player and multi-sport athletes to equestrians, dancers, and even ballet performers on Cincinnati’s biggest stages, these young women embody what it means to be well-rounded student-athletes. They’ve taken on the challenge of building a new cheer program while excelling in their own diverse pursuits, showing resilience, teamwork, and commitment to community,” she said.
“This cheer team has completely rebuilt the program from the ground up in just a few short months. They have created new traditions, pushed their limits to master new skills, and most importantly, put their fellow students and community first. The feedback from administrators, coaches, and classmates has been overwhelmingly positive. The energy they’ve brought to Country Day is unlike anything the school has experienced before.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Enquirer announces Spirit Award winners for Oct. 3
Reporting by Melanie Laughman, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
