Thanks to the hard work and dedication of 22 students and one devoted coach, Arizona Charter Academy is quickly becoming well-known for its outstanding cheer team.

Gabriella Pridie, who also teaches fifth and sixth grade science at ACA, started the cheer team in September 2023.

“At first it was just cheer, with the intent of raising school spirit at student of the month assemblies and home sports games,” Pridie said. “Within a few months of starting the program we had a young man approach me asking if he could be the mascot. I gladly accepted him and added a mascot to our cheer team.”

It didn’t take long for other cheer coaches in the West Valley to notice the skill and talent of the ACA cheer team.

In early 2024, the head cheer coach from Verrado High School contacted Pridie to ask if ACA’s cheer team would like to participate in their Jr. High Cheer competition called Viper Showdown.

“Originally I did not plan to have the team compete in our first year, but the girls were very excited about the opportunity, so we then added competition to our team,” Pridie said, adding that the team competed in Game Day, Show Cheer and Stunt at the competition. “The girls had an amazing experience, and we took third place in Game Day and fourth place in Show Cheer.”

After working hard over the summer with the Willow Canyon High School cheer team and its coach, Pridie said the ACA cheer team began the 2024-2025 school year stronger and more devoted than ever.

“In the beginning, our team consisted of fewer than 20 female students and one male mascot. This year we have over 20 female students and two male mascots,” she said. “This school year I also revamped our cheer team with a new label as spirit line to include cheer, competition cheer, mascot, and the new addition of pom.”

Recently, the team attended the CAA Preliminaries, where they received fourth in Show Cheer and Game Day, third in Stunt, and received a Showstopper Award in Pom.

The team also attended a home cheer camp with UCA, where the athletes learned new cheers, dance and stunts.

“Three of our athletes were selected for All American, which gives them the opportunity to travel and perform with other selected All-American athletes from around the country,” Pridie said.

The team also hosts mini clinics for ACA’s first- through fourth-graders several times a year, and this month they will hold a one-hour kinder cheer day for the school’s youngest athletes.

While Pridie said she is proud of her team’s achievements and accolades, she is also extremely pleased with the way being part of the cheer team has positively impacted the students.

“We have seen many of our athletes’ behavior both in and out of class improve since joining the team,” she said.

Eighth-grader Ebony Garcia, who joined the cheer team as a seventh-grader, said being part of the team has changed her in many ways.

“Before cheer I had a terrible year and was rude and defiant towards adults,” Ebony said. “Once I knew I wanted to join cheer and read through the expectations I started improving my grades and attitude to meet the high standards that cheer expected. I feel like I push myself to reach higher goals and exceed grade expectations. I now try to get A’s in class and care more about my grades.”

For Neveah Pete Bacak, a sixth-grader who joined the team last year, she especially enjoys attending the special events with the rest of the squad.

“I also like the friendship I have built with my bases and backspot,” Neveah said.

Lesly Reynoso, an eighth-grader and team captain, said while there are many things she enjoys about being on the ACA cheer team, she especially loves seeing the way the group comes together to see what they can accomplish.

“I also love seeing the faces of little kids when they see us, it reminds me of when I was little watching older cheerleaders,” Lesly said.