Coaches: Monet Taylor (head coach), Lidnsea Britton (assistant coach), Mandy Jung (assistant coach)

Top Returners: Charlise Tolentino (12), Chastity Hernandez (11)

Top Newcomers: Audrianna Van Lingen (11), Sherlyn Maquez (10)

Last Season: During their run last season, cheer placed fourth in two of the regional competitions and ninth in the varsity show cheer non-tumbling novice division at the USA Spirit Association Nationals. 

Outlook: Taylor said that the team is focused on earning a perfect score with zero deductions, qualifying for nationals and placing in the top three at nationals this season. She said the team is making significant progress toward its objectives through constant practice to replicate a competition environment and create a more simplistic routine compared to last season.

“We had a really fun time at nationals [last year], so just going into tryouts, I [am] really excited just to pick up the team and start again,” Taylor said. 

Taylor said the team performs routines all-out during practices Monday through Friday to replicate how everything will run on the day of the competition.

“We start practicing in June, so as soon as school’s out, we’re here practicing; we are not just out here practicing for our competition season but for football as well,” the head coach said. “So we’re here running drills, stunting, teaching new girls to stunt and getting used to the new team.”

Taylor said that although practices begin at the start of summer, actual preparation for the competition routine did not begin until the start of the school year in August.

To refine their routine and reduce the number of flyers that lose their stability, the coaches designed a simpler routine compared to last season, ensuring the girls could effectively hit all their skills, Taylor said.

“Our goal is to hit everything well because last season there were some bobbles, so we just wanted to put them out on the floor with something that we know they’re going to hit solid,” Taylor said.

This season, base Hernandez hopes to return to the mat as someone that newcomers in the program can look up to. 

“I plan to fulfill my role as a returner for the underclassmen by being someone they can look up to and lean on when they need help and making sure we’re all on task and using the right technique when stunting,” Hernandez said. 

The returner also said that positivity during practice is a personal goal she has for herself to keep spirits high, even during a rough practice. 

“Practices have been good; everyone is motivated and determined to win,” Hernandez said. “We all push each other and are on task; we also make sure everyone is having fun, and their heart is still in it.” 

As an upperclassman, side base junior Valeria Estrada steps into her second year in the program, fully embracing her leadership role to lead the team to success. 

“As president of the team this year, some individual goals [I have] are being a stronger leader by setting a good tone and keeping everyone focused, helping build team unity and improving organization by planning events,” Estrada said.  

For her first year, sophomore Alissa Rubio said she feels confident in the season because of the strong team she’s now a part of. 

“As a newcomer, I feel very included because of my amazing team members,” Rubio said. 

Having completed their first competition on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the USA Regional Competition, junior Sarina Desai said the team achieved success by working together, being encouraging and keeping the routine clean to win first place. 

“We were the last team to compete of the night, so we had to leave a lasting impression on the judges, and we did,” Desai said. “We beat out one of the biggest competitors, El Modena High School.” 

With a strong start to the season, the Lady Lancers will be competing on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at the USA Southern California Regional 4 competition.