Vote for The Enquirer's Sept. 15 Spirit Award honoring cheer, dance

The Cincinnati Enquirer is pleased to offer The Spirit Award voting poll for weekly recognition of cheerleaders, dance team members and their squads.

Much like the popular athlete of the week voting, school fans and friends can vote on two weekly ballots (individual and team) for The Spirit Award. Only coaches can provide nominations each week, either for their squads or other teams.

Eligible are varsity girls and boys cheerleaders and dancers who exemplify the fruits of the spirit ‒ love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – while uplifting their squads, the student body and others.

Team nominations focus on squads that come together to help each other, work hard, do things right that week, show

outstanding virtues when dealing with or serving others, exceed expectations to prepare something special for the school or take part in any other honorable reason they might be acknowledged.

Voting lasts until 4 p.m. on Fridays, when winners will be announced with a story. They will receive digital certificates and can share a photo with those certificates for an upcoming gallery. Email [e-mail] or [e-mail] to receive the certificate.

Coaches can email [e-mail] with questions, to join the email distribution list and submit nominations. The deadline is every Monday by noon.

Here are this week's ballots, with athletes and teams nominated by their coaches:

Spirit Award - Individuals

Ava Beckley, Conner High School – She shows up and gives 110% at every practice, every game, and every event. She has consistently demonstrated a positive attitude, leadership, being a team player, kindness and a willingness to do whatever is needed to benefit the team. Her work ethic is second to none. No matter what, Ava will always show up with a smile and a great attitude. We are proud to have Ava as a Conner High School cheerleader!

Alyssa Caldwell, South Dearborn High School ‒ The sophomore varsity cheerleader is a dedicated member of both our competition and sideline squads. Alyssa is actively involved in her school community and takes pride in representing South Dearborn. Alyssa is hardworking and brings a positive attitude to practices and games. She is a supportive teammate who encourages others and is always willing to step up when needed. 

Evie Cole, Milford High School ‒ Evie is a varsity cheerleader who truly shines as a leader through her unwavering kindness, patience and joyful energy. Her faithfulness and self-control under pressure keep our squad unified, while her constant focus on encouraging others makes her a powerful force for school spirit.

Brielle Dozier, Gamble Montessori ‒ The senior is an amazing leader inside and outside of school. She is a straight-A student who shows spirit, leadership and integrity on and off the field.

Lexie Grimes, Middletown High School – The varsity senior treats her peers, teachers, and teammates with the utmost respect and kindness. She is a hard-working athlete who consistently delivers great skill and sportsmanship. She is helpful to her team, as well as her coach. I appreciate having her on the team as she defines what it is to be a scholar-athlete. 

Ella Myers, Newport Central Catholic High School ‒ Ella led her team with grace during NCC's historic first home football game. Love, joy, patience and kindness ‒ all qualities that easily describe Ella. She is creative and trustworthy. She is the heart of the team and never lacking in love or support for the sport or her teammates. She challenges and guides. She is always willing to help her coaches and provide assistance to her underclassmen. NCC is blessed to have her on their roster.

Kaitlyn Reeves, Taylor High School – The senior is willing to take on challenges and try new things. Kaitlyn never shies away from something difficult; instead, she approaches challenges with determination and a positive attitude. One of her greatest strengths is her ability to remain calm and composed in chaotic situations. Rather than adding to the madness, she takes a breath, pivots when necessary, makes the needed adjustments, and adapts quickly. Kaitlyn is someone her teammates can rely on, especially when things don't go according to plan. Her resilience, maturity, and ability to handle challenges with grace make her truly deserving of this recognition.

Camaya Sanders, Winton Woods High School – The senior is a natural leader both on and off the field. As captain of the cheer program and an active member of Student Council, she consistently uses her enthusiasm, positivity, and energy to uplift and support her peers. She is committed to helping all students thrive socially, academically, and athletically, making a positive impact wherever she goes.

Spirit Award - Teams

Conner High School Cheer Squads ‒ This group of girls – varsity and junior varsity - has met and exceeded all our expectations and it’s only the beginning of the season! They are all amazing athletes as well as hard-working, kind and generous leaders. They also look out for each other and get along very well. They have worked hard all summer learning new cheers and dances as well as new stunts, pyramids, etc. They are willing to step in wherever needed and have incredibly positive attitudes. We are very proud of every Conner Cougar Cheerleader!

East Central High School Varsity Cheer Squad – According to their coach Tammy Hensley, the squad consists of 14 amazingly talented girls on and off the mats. They not only accepted a new coaching staff, but also jumped on board, embracing new ideas and being willing to not just try but give their all while doing so.  Just this past week, they hosted roughly 200 young girls, ranging in ages 5-13, to cheer 3 of the 4 quarters of our home game. To prepare for that, they hosted not just a Pee Wee Cheer Clinic,  but also a Pee Wee COACH Clinic to help the volunteer coaches better prepare our future cheerleaders. This was all well thought out and executed over the summer. Besides teaching others,  they've embraced all of our traveling cheerleaders for opposing teams by offering small gifts with notes of encouragement.  This past week, all the girls had the same USA hair bow in remembrance of September 11th. The girls aren’t just taking pride in the team they represent. They are showing pride in their entire community. Through working with young girls, supporting and respecting their coaches, and encouraging opposing teams and their cheer squads, they are demonstrating what it truly means to be a leader. They are using their platform to spread positivity, build others up, and make a difference both on and off the sidelines.

Harrison High School Varsity Cheerleading Squad ‒ The Harrison High School Varsity Cheerleading team is proud to represent Harrison with 16 dedicated athletes, 12 seniors and 4 juniors. This talented group brings energy, school spirit, teamwork, and determination to every game and performance. With a strong senior class leading the way, the team is excited to make the most of this season while creating lasting memories together. From the sidelines to the competition floor, these athletes work hard to support their school, teammates, and community.

Lakota East High School Cheer Squad ‒ A huge congratulations to our Lakota East Cheer Squads for an outstanding job at the Homecoming Pep Rally! Your energy, enthusiasm, and school spirit helped make the event a memorable success for our students and staff. Our cheerleaders do so much more than lead cheers on Friday nights. They proudly support all East sports and activities, encouraging our athletes, students, and school community throughout the year. Whether it's football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, wrestling, or any other Hawk event, they are there promoting school pride and creating a positive atmosphere. Thank you for your dedication, commitment, and countless hours of hard work. We are proud of the way you represent East both on and off the field. Keep bringing the spirit and showing everyone what it means to be a Hawk!

Miami Valley Christian Academy Varsity Cheer Squad -  This squad demonstrated that true spirit is about much more than cheers, loud voices, and school pride—it is about showing the fruits of the Spirit through their words, actions, and attitudes throughout the entire game. From the opening whistle to the final play, our cheerleaders displayed love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. They encouraged their team with positive energy, supported one another, showed respect to the opposing team and officials, and never stopped cheering—even when the game became challenging. Their enthusiasm was contagious! They rallied the crowd, lifted up their players, and continued to cheer with passion and perseverance until the very end. Their encouragement helped create an atmosphere of unity, excitement, and belief that helped propel their team to victory. Most importantly, these cheerleaders understood that their purpose extends beyond the sidelines. They represented their school and their faith by allowing their light to shine through their attitudes, teamwork, and encouragement. For their outstanding sportsmanship, faith, enthusiasm, teamwork, and ability to inspire their team and crowd, I proudly nominate the MVCA Cheer Squad for the Spirit Award! “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” — Galatians 5:22-23

Princeton High School Varsity Co-ed Cheer Team - The Princeton High School Varsity Coed Cheer Team is more than a cheerleading squad; they are a team built on school spirit, leadership, perseverance and pride in representing Princeton High School. This season, our athletes have continued to raise the standard both on and off the sidelines. Our coed program combines strong stunting, tumbling, energy, and performance while creating an environment where every athlete is encouraged to grow and push beyond their limits. Our team takes great pride in being positive representatives of Princeton High School and bringing energy to every game, event, and competition. What makes this team special is the commitment they have to one another. Our athletes come from different backgrounds and skill levels, but they come together as one team with one goal: to make Princeton proud. Our male and female athletes work side-by-side, challenge one another, and demonstrate that cheerleading is a sport that requires strength, athleticism, trust, discipline, and teamwork. The Princeton Varsity Coed Cheer Team embodies what Spirit Team of the Week should represent. They show up, work hard, support their school, and bring an energy that can be felt throughout the entire Princeton community.

How winners can receive their certificates

Winners can email [e-mail] to receive the PDF winners' certificates. They can print the certificates and submit a photo of the winners holding the certificate to [e-mail]. Winners are also welcome to submit a video thanking fans for their votes.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Vote for The Enquirer's Sept. 15 Spirit Award honoring cheer, dance