• Article Photo. VSHS cheerleaders pose with coaches Fitzpatrick and Walker during wrap-up banquet Thursday.
    VSHS cheerleaders pose with coaches Fitzpatrick and Walker during wrap-up banquet Thursday.
  • Article Photo. The spirit, MVP, rookie and freshmen award winners pose with coaches.
    The spirit, MVP, rookie and freshmen award winners pose with coaches.
  • Article Photo. Exchange student Rosali Seharnet of Germany learned cheerleading from Coach Fitzpatrick & others.
    Exchange student Rosali Seharnet of Germany learned cheerleading from Coach Fitzpatrick & others.
  • Article Photo. Seniors Kristin, Marissa and Rosali received megaphone-shaped charms.
    Seniors Kristin, Marissa and Rosali received megaphone-shaped charms.

     There were a few tears and lots of pleasant memories to share as Vinton-Shellsburg Cheerleading Coach Krystal Fitzpatrick said farewell to the VSHS cheerleaders during their annual wrap-up Thursday night. 

     Fitzpatrick will begin student teaching in the fall; her schedule will not allow her to continue leading the cheerleaders, which she has done for the past five years. 

     The coach thanked the cheerleaders for their efforts, and for the respect they have brought to the program. She also thanked assistant coach Randi Walker for her many years of working with the cheerleaders The program began the year with only six cheerleaders, but ended with approximately 26. 

     Varsity wrestling cheerleader Marissa Eldred was voted the MVP by the rest of the cheerleaders. Eldred, a senior, has been a wrestling cheerleader all four years of high school. Fitzpatrick thanked her for her leadership, especially this year. The coaches chose Eldred and Emma Horst as co-MVPs. 

    One of the award recipients was foreign exchange student Rosali Seharnert. The German student had never been a cheerleader before, but was invited to wander across the hall during a play practice to see if she would be interested. Fitzpatrick praised her for her efforts, and said it must have been difficult to learn cheers in a second language. Along with the other seniors, Rosali received a megaphone-shaped charm as a souvenir of her time as a Vinton-Shellsburg cheerleader. 

      Walker said she is one of the applicants for the cheerleading coaching position next year. 

     The award recipients include:


Most Improved
Cheerleaders Choice: 
Kaitlin Casteel, Rosalie Scharnert, Kathryn Michael
Coaches' Choice: Suzanne Robinson

Most Spirited
Cheerleaders Choice: Emma Horst
Coaches' Choice: Emma Horst and Katlyn Stahlhut

MVP
Cheerleaders Choice: Marissa Eldred
Coaches' Choice: Marissa Eldred and Emma Horst

Rookie of the Year
Cheerleaders Choice: Kathryn Michael and Shay Lockard-Cook
Coaches' Choice: Katlyn Stahlhut and Jaeger Shaw