By Teddy Rydquist
Leader Staff Writer

The reigning Oakland Activities Association White Division champions, the Oxford Wildcats cheer team is looking to continue their success in the second year of Alanna Weber’s second stint as the program’s head coach.
Assisted by Kelly Westbrook, the Lady Wildcats will continue to reside in the OAA White in 2019-20.
This year, Oxford High School will host five competitions this season. This is quite an increase in workload for all parties involved.
“In the past, we’ve only hosted one tournament,” Westbrook said. “We received really positive feedback on how we ran that competition, so this year they’re having us hold a junior level competition for middle school, freshman and junior varsity, our annual Mardi Gras Invite on Jan. 11, the second league meet on Jan. 30 and the Oakland County Championships on Feb. 8.
“It’s an honor to host all these competitions, but it’s a lot of work, too.”
Comprising 12 of the 26 student-athletes on the squad, there is a heavy senior presence among this year’s group. With so many of the girls being classmates, the coaches turned to a unique tactic.
“We’re excited about our senior class,” Westbrook told this reporter. “Because all of them are strong athletes but also great individual leaders, we made every single one of them a team captain and gave them each a different responsibility.”
For example, one senior’s responsibility is to help with conditioning, another’s is to help the coaches more during practice. Girls whom have expressed an interest in coaching in the future can try their hand at that as well.
Relying on this returning leadership, the team has a clear cut goal to strive for as they move forward.
“Our first competition is in mid-December so we’re preparing for that right now, but we’re also really focused on being league champions again,” said Westbrook. “Repeating is our biggest goal for the season, that’s what we’re working toward.”
The Wildcats will begin their season in the CCCAA Meet on Dec. 14 at a still to be determined location.