Senior Ilima Kaauwai-Walker was named most valuable player, the Pink Pom Girl of the Year, by her teammates on the Huskies cheer team during an awards banquet held Friday evening.
“She’s someone who is kind to everyone,” said Coach Amber Rosa. “She is amazingly talented.”
Kaauwai-Walker placed seventh in the sport’s all-state selections, and she also won one of two coach’s awards.
“She’s never been on the grade list,” Rosa said. “I’ve never had an ounce of attitude.”
Kaauwai-Walker has never been mixed up in drama or violated the rules, Rosa said. She does everything she can to be a good person.
“She’s faithful, graceful, and she’s loving,” Rosa said. She makes everyone around her feel important. Rosa worries she has taken her for granted. She gave Kaauwai-Walker the Coach’s Award to make sure Kaauwai-Walker knows how much she is appreciated.
The second Coach’s Award went to junior Jade Smith for the growth she has shown over the past year.
She is someone who is “constantly, quietly working hard,” Rosa said. She makes sure her grades are good and is never on the grade list. She has become confident and gives everything she has to the program.
The cheer team voted on the remaining awards,
The team named Hailey Miller Rookie of the Year.
Senior Erin Bauer received the Work Horse Award.
Sophomore Nicole Grady was named Most Inspirational.
Freshman McKenzie Wolfe was Tough as Nails.
Earning their first letters were freshmen Shelby Goodwin, Hailey Miller, Pippi Somatis, McKenzie Wolfe and Courtnie Woodard.
Second-year letters went to sophomores Halley Autry, Shayla Hunsaker, Nicole Grady, Shahalie Erickson and Hailey Wolfe and juniors Jade Smith, Jessi Thomas and Amber Walton.
Receiving their third letters were juniors Ashley Bailey, Hannah Graham and Britney Zook.
Fourth-year letter winners were seniors Erin Bauer, Shania Baxter, Ilima Kaauwai-Walker and Ivy Weidner.