Locals to lead university cheers

After leaving high school, these five Foster High School cheerleaders will be heading off in different directions to cheer on their chosen college squads. From left, Jenna Wells, Sam Houston State Bearkats; Lauren Lev, St. Edwards University Hilltoppers; Ali Ping, Texas State University-San Marcos Bobcats; Julie Christiana, Baylor University Bears; and Danielle Hope, University of Texas-Austin Longhorns.

Some may be surprised that five cheerleaders from Foster High School will be cheering on college squads in the fall, but not their coach.

Coach Wyman Hopkins said he is proud, not surprised.

The reason there are a handful of cheerleaders heading off to college squads is because he said his squad “has the most talent when it comes to competitive cheerleading.”

“They are not typical sideline cheerleaders,” he said. “They are competitive cheerleaders.”

From the FHS cheerleading squad, Julie Christiana, Danielle Hope, Lauren Lev, Ali Ping and Jenna Wells will be entering their respective colleges not only as freshman students but as the “newbies” on each university's cheerleading squad.

Christiana is attending Baylor University; Hope, University of Texas - Austin; Lev, St. Edwards University; Ping, Texas State University-San Marcos; and Wells, Sam Houston State.

Renecia Ross

Out of all three Lamar Consolidated ISD's high schools, Foster has the most girls going to college squads.

B.F. Terry High School is the only other school that has a college squad-bound cheerleader.

Coach Brooke Walleck said THS cheer squad Capt. Renecia Ross will be cheering as a Prairie View A M University Panther this fall.