New DS cheerleaders Ashley Lovain (L) and Alex Martin talk with Coach Robyn Newelll during a signing party in the Coahulla Creek High media center.
Alex Martin signs with Dalton State - seated from left: Aiden Patterson, brother; Jessica Patterson, mother; Alex Martin; and Jason Patterson, father . Standing: Gerald Vaughn, grandfather; Ansley Martin, sister; Robyn Newell, DS cheer coach; and Sasha Raborn, CCHS cheer coach.
Ashley Lovain signs with Dalton State cheer. Seated from left: Diane Smith, grandmother; Ashley Lovain; and Joe Lovain, father. Standing: Brad Smith, grandfather; Robyn Newell, DS cheer coach; and Sasha Raborn, CCHS cheer coach.
Dalton State cheer coach Robyn Newell continues to make the end of school rounds signing many of the area’s best high school senior cheerleaders to the brand new Roadrunner competition and spirit cheer program.
Newell visited Coahulla Creek High on Thursday and came away with autographs from Colts cheer captains Alexandria “Alex” Martin and Ashley Lovain.
Newell said local cheerleaders help DS build a “strong, tight community based program.”
“I’m super proud that all of these athletes are wanting to stay at home and not catch the I want to go away to college fever,” she said.
“They have decided to represent where they are rooted, where their families and friends are.”
After beginning high school at Northwest Whitfield, the newest Roadrunners took advantage of the opportunity to transfer to the new Coahulla Creek High for their junior and senior years.
“I’m really excited,” Martin said. “It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to continue my education and my love of cheerleading at a school here at home.”
Newell said it is great to have athletes who want to stay at home and compete for DS. “I received a letter in the mail from Alex,” she said. “The letter listed her significant athletic and academic achievements. She was definitely succeeding as a cheerleader here.”
Martin was a captain of the Colts varsity football and basketball spirit squads as well as the competition cheer squad. “The leadership skills she showed right off the bat were impressive,” Newell said. “I knew she was a great fit for our program.”
Lovain is an accomplished cheerleader. She has been captain of the competition and basketball squads. She has also been a member of the CCHS soccer team. “Ashley has the most gorgeous smile and she has wonderful flying skills,” said Newell. “She just seems to be a well rounded athlete and she has a great personality for cheer.”
Lovain also said she is excited about continuing her education at home. “It’s a great opportunity for me to be close to my family and to follow my dreams of cheerleading at the college level,” she said. “I’m really, really pumped about it.”
Raborn is proud of having two CCHS cheerleaders on the first-ever DS team. She praised their “winning attitudes.”
The coach said Martin has led by example. “Alex has been a vital part of our program here at Coahulla Creek,” she said. “The other girls look to her for leadership. Her strengths were her tumbling ability and her ability to push everybody else forward and make everybody as strong as they possibly can be.”
Raborn said she began coaching Lovain in the seventh grade at Westside Middle School. “Coaching Ashley has been more than a pleasure,” the coach said. “She has been a flyer on our team and her skill level is outstanding. She worked very hard from a young age to be the best that she could be in that position. I’m extremely proud to have seen her grow from a 13 year old to the young woman that she is today.”
Graduating with high honors, Patterson remains undecided on her college major. Lovain plans to continue her education in the medical field.
Alex is the daughter of Jessica and Jason Patterson of Tunnel Hill. Her siblings are Ainslee Martin, 15; Jaci Patterson, 12; and Aiden Patterson, 8.
Ashley is the daughter of Jaime Smith and Joe Lovain of Rocky Face. She has one sister, Ali Lovain, 15.