Olney cheerleaders lend support to Iraann

The Olney High School Cheerleading Squad joined more than 700 other cheerleaders in supporting the Iraan High School team.

Earlier this month, the Iraan cheerleading team was involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler, while traveling back from the football team's playoff victory over Albany. The accident took the life of 52-year-old Iraan-Sheffield ISD Teacher and Team Sponsor Liz Pope and required some students to have injuries treated at the local emergency room.

The following week, the Lady Cubs made the nearly five-hour drive to Iraan to support their Iraan counterparts.

“We just wanted to support the cheerleaders,” Olney Sophomore Cheerleader Maddy Green said. “Cheerleaders support each other through everything. If something wrong happens, we want them to know that we're there for them. It's was all about saying 'we're there for you.' There were a bunch of cheerleaders there and it was great to see. It was cold, but it was good that we went.”

Although there to support Iraan, Green said she learned a few life lessons and was happy to be with her fellow cheerleaders, many she has not spent a lot of time with since the football team wrapped up its season in late November.

“It was inspiring, even through the downs there are always ups,” Green said. “... I made several friends there that were not from anywhere near Olney. It was cool. It was a group decision. We heard about it and decided to go. It was fun, ever since the football season ended we kind of separated. Not much, but it was nice to get back with everybody.”