For most young kids, the dream of being a cheerleader isn’t a foreign concept. However, very few get the opportunity to actually achieve this dream. That is where developmental teacher, Ms. Haley Utz, at J.J. Pearce High School comes in. Ms. Utz created a cheer squad aimed at inclusivity with the hopes of giving everybody an opportunity to be involved. The Pearce Spirit Stangs are part of the school’s official spirit organizations and are flourishing! They attract a variety of members, including those who identify with a disability, as well as mentor students who do not.
The team was initially formed in 2020, through the support of the principal, district athletic coordinator, and Superintendent Tabitha Branum. They began with 12 members, but the squad has only grown from there.
In the 2025-26 school year, the team has 19 members with a fairly balanced number of students with and without disabilities. The team does not require tryouts, so anybody is free to join! In the past, members have also been a part of the Stampede Western dance team, Pacesetter Varsity drill team, and even the Varsity and JV cheer team, who help to bring some of their school spirit experience. Twice a week, the team meets to learn and practice new cheers and dances to prepare for their upcoming appearances. The Spirit Stangs perform at a variety of varsity and junior varsity football games, pep rallies, and basketball games throughout the school year. Last year, they were invited to perform at the Younglife Capurunem Art Auction Talent Show.
The team’s impact and joy that they bring to the community is so apparent. At games and pep rallies, the team cheers in front of parents and elementary and middle school student attendees. A freshman on this year’s team describes how she was inspired to join the squad after seeing the students cheering on the sidelines during her eighth-grade year. “It is so much fun knowing that everyone is cheering you on”, says Teagan Fox, one of this year’s captains.
Parents of team members with disabilities have also expressed their appreciation for the squad, thanking it for giving their children, as well as them, an opportunity to experience being a part of a team. Utz explained that on game days, the Spirit Stangs get to show their school spirit and wear their uniforms to school, giving members a sense of pride and belongingness. Ella McLain, another Spirit Stang captain, loves how the Spirit Stangs shine a light on those who might normally be overlooked. “At Pep Rallies, it is so much fun to see them (students with disabilities) get to have their moment to have fun and dance around,” Ella McLain says. “ Even with nonverbal members, you can see the pure joy in their faces.”
With the joy the team brings to J.J. Pearce High School, members hope that other schools follow in their footsteps. They want to inspire the growth of other inclusive programs so every student gets to feel the pride of being a member of a team.
This feature was written by Lake Highlands High School senior Avery Till, who is a member of the RISD Professional Internship Program that allows students to gain experience in a field or industry of their choice. Avery is interning with the RISD Strategy & Engagement department. She plans to study Sports Marketing at the University of Tennessee.
