By Jack Hart | ILSportsWire
The Taylorville Tornado cheerleading squad is entering a new season with plenty of excitement, a young roster ready to grow, and three seniors prepared to lead the way.
Victoria Veradi, Morgan Milner and Abbie Rexroad are the lone seniors on this year’s squad, and each has already built lasting memories throughout their Taylorville cheer careers.
For Veradi, one of her favorite memories has been winning the Banana at UCA camp two years in a row. Milner remembers her sophomore-year Pink Out game, while Rexroad pointed to receiving the Leadership Award at camp this summer.
Now, with one final season ahead, their focus has shifted toward leadership.
Their message to the younger cheerleaders is simple: don’t give up, stay positive and continue lifting each other up.
The Tornadoes are coming off a major transition after graduating a large senior class, but the program has quickly embraced its next group of leaders. Eleven returning sophomores, who were freshmen last season, bring valuable experience, while a new group of freshmen continues to learn the Taylorville way.
That growth began during summer camp.
Taylorville had an impressive showing, bringing home two first-place trophies, the Banana Leadership Award, multiple All-American honors and a finalist finish in the Jump-a-thon.
“We brought home two first place trophies, the Banana Leadership Award, lots of All-Americans and a finalist in the Jump-a-thon,” Coach Shelly Rexroad said. “It was just an amazing time. And they continue to work hard and impress us all.”
Coach Courtney Fardon also emphasized the importance of the returning sophomores, who are helping bridge the gap between the three seniors and the younger girls joining the program.
For Rexroad and Fardon, coaching this group has also been about watching athletes grow not only as cheerleaders, but as people.
Rexroad has coached Veradi and Rexroad since their days in Taylorville Youth Cheer, while Milner found her way to the program after spending her freshman year around the team. Fardon has also coached several of the seniors through youth and junior varsity cheer.
Now, seeing them prepare for their final season has created a bittersweet feeling for both coaches.
“They’re great girls. We’re blessed to have them on our team,” Rexroad said.
Taylorville has built a strong foundation through its feeder system, including Taylorville Youth Cheer, JFL and junior high cheer. That system allows younger athletes to learn the same counts, cheers and traditions they will eventually perform at the high school level.
One of the biggest traditions comes during the fight song, when athletes from first grade through 12th grade can come together and perform as one.
For Rexroad, it remains one of the most special moments of the season.
“It literally brings me to tears,” she said. “It is like pure joy for me to see them all out there together, all levels from first grade to 12th grade out there doing the same thing.”
That sense of community extends beyond the football field. Taylorville’s high school cheerleaders frequently give back by helping at youth practices and games, teaching younger athletes everything from counts to jumps while helping maintain the program’s continuity.
But don’t mistake the smiles and traditions for a lack of work.
The Tornado cheerleaders have been putting in long practices, often working from 4:30 to 7 p.m., while preparing to make sure every performance is sharp.
And once Friday night arrives, their job goes beyond executing cheers.
They want to bring the entire crowd into the experience.
The seniors are asking Taylorville fans to wear their purple and gold, get on their feet, respond to the cheers and bring energy throughout the night.
“Showing up and showing out,” the seniors said.
The goals for the upcoming season are ambitious. The seniors want to see winning records in football and basketball, make a deep run, and continue building the cheer team into an even stronger unit.
And there could be something new on the horizon for Taylorville cheer.
Fardon said the team is looking forward to outside appearances, showcases and potentially entering competitions as the season progresses — opening another chapter for a program that continues to grow.
For the coaches, some of their favorite memories aren’t necessarily the trophies.
Fardon said some of her favorite moments have come from watching the girls create memories together at camp — laughing, spending time together and building the friendships that can last long after their cheerleading careers are over.
That is what makes this Taylorville team special.
It’s more than cheers, stunts and Friday night performances. It’s a program built around tradition, community, leadership and the relationships created along the way.
With Victoria Veradi, Morgan Milner and Abbie Rexroad leading a young but talented group, the Taylorville Tornado cheer squad is ready to bring the energy when the lights come on.
And if the summer is any indication, this group has plenty to be excited about.
