AT A GLANCE: ATHLETICS For several decades, St. Philip’s has provided arguably the largest and most diverse athletics program for 4- to 14-year-olds in the southern sector of Dallas.
SAINTS Cheerleaders Exhibit S-P-I-R-I-T! Cheering is as big at St. Philip’s as football and basketball. We recently sat down with Anyah and Kaiya to learn more about what it’s like and what it takes to be a cheerleader for the St. Philip’s Saints. This season marks the seventh year of cheering for Anyah and fifth for Kaiya. “I started cheering with St. Philip’s when I was six years old but this is my last year,” says Anyah, who at 13, has aged out of the program. “I feel sad about having to leave cheer this year. Cheer has given me spirit and makes me really happy. When I go to Woodrow Wilson High School next year, I want to try out for cheer. My good attitude and determination will help me be great.” Anyah attended Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary in South Dallas, and currently attends J.L. Long Middle School, in east Dallas. Ten-year-old Kaiya comes from a serious football family. So serious, in fact, that according to her mother, her introduction to St. Philip’s and cheer began the day she arrived home from the hospital. “That same day, we went to a Saints game. Her two older brothers played football and her dad coached. We had to be there to cheer them on,” she explains.
Cheer has given both Kaiya and Anyah the opportunity to travel outside of Dallas and the state for regional competitions. It has also given them tremendous confidence, leadership skills, and discipline. In fact, Kaiya, a student at Charles Rice Learning Center in South Dallas, is now president of the tech club, participates in summer theater programs, and sings in the choir. “My favorite thing about cheerleading,” Kaiya explains, “is I get to be a leader.”
CHEER FACTS:
12
WINTER MAGAZINE 2017
The 2017 Pee Wee and Jr. Varsity cheer teams will be competing in regionals
Cheerleader Kihanna Woods received a North Texas Pop Warner Scholar award for having the highest GPA
St. Philip’s cheer parents received the SPIRIT AWARD
www.stphilips1600.org
