Congratulations Class of 2008!

Congratulations Christine

Sophomore Christine Harriott was named First Trumpet, First Chair in the Southwest Iowa High School Honor Band by the Southwest Iowa Bandmaster's Association (SWIBA)!
Senior Rena Hayden got Second Clarinet, Sixth Chair.
Way to go Girls! You make Boyer Valley proud.

Lawton Bronson

"Air Kensie"

It took me 5 years to get this photo! Rena's rockin' 'Hurkie!'

A tale of two junior high mascots; Christian's debut in the 'Big Show,' seen here giving Tyler a hard time about it.

Parting is sweet sorrow.

I couldn't let the season end without telling you kids how great you were. You really made me proud. I know I whined alot in the beginning about not having a lot of people want to tryout last Spring for this Fall and about how Christine & Jessica couldn't cheer etc. etc. But I couldn't have been luckier to get the 4 we got. Seldom have I cared about 4 kids so much in 13 years of coaching. I'm only sorry if I failed to make you feel valued. It's a shame that football season is only 9 games long, because you really got awesome your last 3 games. Sure, I can wish your knees and backs would've let us stunt, but you got SO good at getting the crowd excited I could hardly believe it.

Rena- Your dedication, your work ethic and drive and your memorized catalog of chants are all incredible. And you're jumps aren't too shabby either. Your greatest strength, your leadership also happens to be your Achilles' Heel (you're such a perfectionist and it's so important to you to have a grip on things and have them the way they're supposed to be- that I think its hard for you to be flexible or not be in the driver's seat.) You've come so far and achieved so much since junior high, can you believe it? Maybe you'll come back next Fall- I know that cheer is in your system like a desease and how important it is to you- or maybe you'll grow out of it and move on to other things. Either way, hold on to the good memories and the important lessons that cheer has given you.

Sasha- Especially for someone who didn't want to come out at first, you have become one awesome cheerleader, girl. Louder, sharper, sure of yourself. I bet that if Rena had graduated already or hadn't come out this season, you would've stepped up to become a real leader. You're creative, you take initiative and you know how to get CRAZY girl! Don't become all of those negative cheerleading stereotypes, don't be snippy or gossipy or power-hungry or popular. Stay positive and upbeat, outgoing and funny and you will go far. If you tryout for basketball and don't make it, please don't let it be the end of the world or the end of your cheerleading career- tryout again next fall. You're too talented and have too much school spirit to turn negative. If you go out and DO make it, don't get a big head and don't get bossy or snotty. Keep working and getting even louder and sharper.

Kensie- WOW! What a difference from the ADHD poster child you were in junior high. I am SO proud of you when I see you teach those 7th graders. You're so funny, and smart and capable of having such a stage presence if you'd let it out, but you either get self-consious or shy or are too afraid of stepping on Rena or Sasha's toes or something because we don't necissarily see the spirit and energy we see at practice at games and we don't necissarily see the leadership and strength that we see when you help at junior high practices at games either. Don't "hide it under a bushell, let your light SHINE and you won't believe how far you'll go! I am SO sorry about your knee- your jumps had been great and you could've benn a terrific flier. You're so much sharper and more coordinated than in junior high. Anytime you're open to helping with Jr Hi, I'll have you- you do such a good job of encouraging them.

Megan- Don't ever fit anyone's stereotype, cheerleader, "Goth" or "Emo" or "Scream-o" or any stereotype. What a stupid mess with all that dumb Chad/Holi crap has been. Don't let Nate lead you on! Sure, I STILL wish you were louder, but I can't believe how far you've come since junior high either. I'm so proud of you. You're really getting good at drawing too! I frankly don't know what to say about you. I probably feel closest to you because you never stop e-mailing me all summer. I hope I've been able to be the ear you needed or to offer the advice you wanted when times have been bumpy. Keep positive (even when your little brother is a pain or when parents are hard to understand) and you will exceed your dreams. Same as I said to Sasha about trying out for basketball Cheer and/or mascot (especially if you have to compete with Brett)- if you make it, don't get complacent or stuck up, keep working at becoming better. If you DON'T make it, for God sake, don't let it be the end of the world, or of your cheerleading career and please don't hate me and hold it against me. Stay positive and (like I told Rena) take the good memories and the lessons that you got from cheer and make them a part of you.

Brett- I guess you'll keep me hanging for at least another week or two to see if this was your last season or if Basketball will be. It really is a shame either way, because you really were phenomenal this season. High energy, careful and patient with kids, creative and silly. College caliber stuff. But more than your performance as Cujo, I'll miss your sanity in the shotgun seat on van rides. It has been great to get to know you and a joy to have someone to talk about theology and complain about the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod with. Good luck in college and life and please don't be a stranger.

If they told me that we could only have 4 cheerleaders and one mascot for the next 4 years and you'd be it- I'd be happy to be stuck with you. Thank your parents for loaning you to me for a few months. I care about each one of you as if you were my godchildren or nieces and nephew. Thank you for a wonderfull season. I'm very proud of you and won't ever forget you.

Love and Prayers,
Coach Mallory

Just in time for Halloween

Gotta love the orange nail polish

So above is a tough girl picture of Rena and Megan...
But below, thanks to a little time in PhotoShop, is a creepy, Halloween-appropriate picture of Rena and Megan "all gothed out," as they call it. They're really not dark, spooky people, but they like music that's a lot louder and depressing than anything I like to listen to. Whatchyagonna do?
Hire me for your next Metal album cover. Happy Halloween.

Jersey Auction

Having fun before the soup-supper. Wow, I have to say that I am REALLY proud. This was the first squad I've had to dress-out AND the first squad to actually perform a chant at the jersey auction! Way to go girls! Loud and PROUD!

Brett auctioned off Cujo's head. Here he is with auctioneer John Scheben. Proud here too. Man, I'm gonna miss this kid. He's great with little kids and he helps me stay sane on drives to away games with all the hair spray, cell phones, make-up and giggles in the van. He's been mascot for 4 years now. Isn't that like 28 in dog years?

Team Picture

Angie, you're such a problem child!

Celebrating another basket

Going out with honor

Whew! It's over. Football season is finally over.
Another win, a big one- 48-13 against West Harrison.

As hard as it was, fighting, complaining, missing practices, family crises, illnesses, cussing, not knowing chants, not chanting, being A.W.O.L. from "windows" during games...

I'm actually really proud of this group of girls. Seriously. They performed better in our first game (Away v. Manning Sept.2) than I expected they would.

The Monday after an abysmal performance at home v. CAM, Anita Oct 14, I read them the riot act, and then, Kayla Lawson (Heather's older sister) did to. Let me tell you, that Tuesday they were a different squad. The next game, away against Treynor Oct 21 they were AMAZING.

Tonight they were almost as good (it might hurt their feelings to hear me say "almost") but tonight they ALSO got Andrea up in a half-extension! AND they invited the Junior High squad to perform a chant with them- witch both squads did great on!

With som much buzz and so many candidates, the chemistry will no doubt be different for basketball- and I won't lie, I'm looking forward to it- be that as it may...

No one would have ever thought that Larissa would ever stand in front of the whole school/town and cheer. She's the quietest girl you'll ever meet. People assume she's shy and dark and sulky and sad and likes it that way. But she's one of the bravest, calmest kids I know.

Nikki drives people crazy because she's always talking and moving, but that's exactly what makes her an awesome cheerleader- she's always full of energy and excitement.

Nichole was the most clunky, uncoordinated kid in junior high, but she worked and trained herself and showed enormous determination to improve and she did it.

Andrea told me that coming out for cheerleading was a life-altering decision that she made. I hope she still feels like that's true. No one would have ever thought that she would come out for cheer, they assume that she's brooding and sardonic and critical of perky people. And that's some of what drove her. She wanted to prove her critics wrong. While I still think she's too hard on herself, she made it. By this last game, she knew most of the chants and kept up. And managed to not kill Nikki...and was the flyer in a half-extension.

I appreciate Heather so much. Not just because of her awesome flips and tumbling, but because she was our glue. Our stabilizing element. She's the one who ran after people who stormed off and wanted to quit. She's the one person of the twelve who never went negative, who never felt sorry for herself and never complained. Even when she lost her Grandpa. She's steady and she leads both by directing people and by example. And even though she's a natural born flyer, she didn't hog the glory but became an outstanding base too.

And Rena. Wow. What a difference from last year. I see it, former cheerleaders see it, other teachers and administrators see it. She was harassed and tormented by classmates last year. This year she's EmCeeing pep-rallies and calling most of the chants and making most of the decisions at games. She encouraged junior high girls to take cheerleading seriously yesterday because of how much it can teach you. She still may have more to learn and more ways to grow, but I'm really proud of her.

After Student Council announced the Football, Band, and Cross Country Seniors and their parents, the girls surprised me- Heather came over the P.A. and they thanked me for my work this season. Then the squad presented me with a batch of cupcakes.

Aw shucks!

Now, a week off of Varsity, then Tryouts.

Most of the 2005 football squad- Nichole, Heather, Rena, Cujo, and NIkki at the Manning Dogfight, Fri. Sep 2, 2005.