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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Four Isabella High School junior varsity cheerleaders earned All-American honors and a spot in the Varsity Spirit Thanksgiving Parade at Walt Disney World Resort from Nov. 20-24.

Emma Baker, Kendall Jones, Kaitlin Littlefield and Jeslyn Wilson attended the Universal Cheerleaders Association summer camp at Jacksonville State University. While there, the four auditioned to be All-Americans at the camp by performing a cheer, a jump and a dance to determine who was selected. When the names were read, all four IHS names were called. They received a medal commemorating their All-American distinction, and their spots in the Varsity Spirit Thanksgiving Parade were secured.

“It was a lot of fun, but it was a lot of practice too,” Wilson said. “(Cheer) is just an overall good experience. I just think the experience of cheer is fun overall, and you connect a lot with your squad and it becomes more of a family with sisters.”

Wilson said she did not tell her parents she was trying out for an All-American spot prior, so when her name was called, it was a surprise to everyone including her parents.

While practices took much of the cheerleader’s time at Disney World, they were able to choose three different parks to visit, including the Magic Kingdom, in between practices to enjoy the theme park and rides.

“My favorite part of the experience was going behind-the-scenes at Disney World, meeting new people and making friends I did not know before,” Baker said.