'Hail State!': Spirit groups represent MSU with pride

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.--Whether performing at home football and basketball games or attending alumni functions and birthday parties, Mississippi State's Spirit Groups work hard to ensure that Bulldogs of all ages have the best fan experience possible.

"At every event, there are so many children who are dressed in small MSU cheer uniforms. It is just precious to see how excited they are to have their picture taken with the cheer and pom squad members and, of course, Bully the mascot," said 11-year Spirit Groups coordinator Melissa Nichols.

"What is really moving and truly 'True Maroon' is when you have a new cheerleader, pom squad member or mascot that grew up wanting to be on this team since they were little," she added.

In addition to Nichols, the MSU Spirit Groups staff includes skills coach John Sommer and dance assistant LaCiana McIntyre.

New spirit group members are selected each year through a highly competitive tryout process. This year's groups were selected from nearly 200 applicants.

Along with participating in four mandatory two-hour practices and two 6 a.m. conditioning sessions per week, the university's co-ed and all-girl cheerleading squads, pom squad and Bully mascots attend Universal Cheerleaders Association/Universal Dance Association instructional camp to learn new skills and crowd-leading techniques.

Throughout the year, members also make appearances at community and fundraising events and host youth and high school squad clinics.

MSU's cheer and dance teams, along with other institutions from the SEC and across the U.S., participate every January in the UCA/UDA College Nationals competition in Orlando, Florida.

"I've grown up loving Bully," recalled Joseph M. "JoJo" Dodd. "I used to think everything he did was funny, but I never even thought about being Bully. He was a huge dog, a character. The aspect of people being involved never crossed my mind growing up."

Now a second-year mascot, the senior economics major and Student Association president from Picayune said getting to be "a part of that magic for young Bulldog fans is incredible."

"It certainly is hard work," he admitted, "but there is nothing like walking into a room and seeing children's faces light up. Just knowing that your presence can make a young fan's day is what makes all of the sweat and hard work worth it."

Senior Delaney Miller, a four-year spirit group member now serving as co-captain of the university's all-girl cheerleading squad, said while cheerleading requires a lot of tiring work, "being in the gym and at practice is where you win."

"Sometimes, it's hard to see past a tough practice, but that moment when your team comes together and succeeds by hitting a perfect routine or getting praised for how good you look on game day makes it pay off," explained the kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Hernando.

Being an MSU cheerleader has been a dream of Miller's for as long as she can remember, and she remains grateful for the opportunity to represent the school she loves.

"Whether it's on game day or for a community event, I always wear my uniform with pride," she said. "My time at MSU has been the time of my life, and sharing this experience with my friends, teammates and family is something I will always cherish."

For more information on the spirit groups, visit spiritgroups.msstate.edu. Also, follow the groups on facebook.com/mstatespirit, twitter.com/mstatespirit, instagram.com/mstatecheer and instagram.com/mstatepomsquad.

Nichols may be contacted at 662-325-0350 or mnichols@saffairs.msstate.edu.

MSU is the Magnolia State's flagship research institution, available online at msstate.edu, meridian.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate, using hashtag #WeRingTrue.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

2015-16 MSU Spirit Group members include (alphabetically, by team):

Co-Ed Cheerleading:

--Zackary L. "Zach" Alleman, an incoming freshman from Pearl majoring in secondary education/mathematics education.

--Skylar L. Byram, a junior elementary education/middle school major from Madison.

--Alyssa R. Chavez, a sophomore elementary education/middle school major from Biloxi.

--Lily M. Cox, an incoming freshman liberal arts major from The Woodlands, Texas.

--Darienne J. Crosby, a sophomore marketing major from Picayune.

--Taylor B. Dearman, a junior kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Philadelphia.

--Dominick Fears, a senior aerospace engineering/aeronautics major from Jackson.

--Alison R. Green, a freshman elementary education major from Corinth.

--Darin R. Hillman, a senior kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Conehatta.

--Christopher A. "Chris" Havard, a senior industrial engineering major from Florence.

--Jamie M. Johnson, a sophomore chemical engineering major from Vancleave.

--Brooke N. Lancaster, an incoming freshman from Columbus majoring in human sciences/human development and family studies.

--Tony D. Ledwell, a senior kinesiology/sports studies major from Birmingham, Alabama.

--Caleb R. McCarty, a senior kinesiology/health fitness studies major from Raleigh.

--Clinton W. "Clint" McNeil, a sophomore building construction science major from Benton.

--Alexandria R. "Alex" Miles, an incoming freshman from Madison majoring in biological sciences/pre-medicine major.

--Savannah Payton, a sophomore kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Marietta, Georgia.

--Jaylen E. Pennisson, an incoming freshman from Bay St. Louis majoring in biological sciences/pre-medicine.

--Bailey D. Pepper, a sophomore biochemistry/entomology major from Pickens.

--Tye Posey, a sophomore forestry/environmental conservation major from Carbon Hill, Alabama.

--Megann C. Price, an incoming sophomore transfer student from Satsuma, Alabama, majoring in kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology.

--Cody R. Shirley, a sophomore kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Glasgow, Kentucky.

--Isaiah K. Smith, a sophomore communication/broadcasting major from Grenada.

--Joanna C. Wilger, a sophomore biological sciences major from Wetumpka, Alabama.

All-Girl Cheerleading:

--Breeanna S. Adams, an incoming freshman from Collinsville majoring in management.

--Allison R. Berler, a senior art/graphic design major from Birmingham, Alabama.

--Brianne R. "Brie" Bibel, a sophomore secondary education/mathematics education major from Schaumburg, Illinois.

--Mallory M. Byrd, an incoming freshman from Columbus majoring in communication.

--Lindsey R. Chun, an incoming freshman from Hernando majoring in elementary education/early childhood.

--Hanna L. Frost, a junior biological sciences major from Eva, Alabama.

--Taylor Garner, an incoming freshman from Roswell, Georgia, majoring in elementary education/early childhood.

--Jessica L. "Jessie" Gehrett, an incoming freshman from Madison majoring in pre-architecture.

--Annalise M. Haarstad, an incoming freshman from Elmhurst, Illinois, majoring in finance.

--Katelyn N. Harmon, an incoming freshman from Ocean Springs majoring in chemistry/pre-pharmacy.

--Anna Morgan Harrington, a sophomore kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Southaven.

--Caroline A. Henson, a sophomore food science, nutrition and health promotion/food and nutrition major from Meridian.

--Hayden C. Houston, a sophomore business administration major from Collierville, Tennessee.

--Margaret C. "Maggie" Kennedy, a junior educational psychology major from Lower Peach Tree, Alabama.

--Brianna N. Knight, a sophomore elementary education/early childhood major from Burlington, New Jersey.

--Kelly K. Lassiter, a freshman kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Daphne, Alabama.

--McKenna M. McLain, a junior biochemistry/pre-medicine major from Hoover, Alabama.

--Peyton M. Metcalf, an incoming freshman from Collierville, Tennessee, majoring in biochemistry/pre-veterinary.

--Delaney Miller, a senior kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Hernando.

--Karly M. Morgan, a sophomore architecture major from Brandon.

--Katherine A. Nayman, an incoming freshman from Meridianville, Alabama, majoring in food science, nutrition and health promotion/food and nutrition.

--Nicole Nixon, a senior kinesiology/health fitness studies major from Ridgeland.

--O'Malley Nobert, an incoming freshman from Germantown, Tennessee, majoring in special education.

--Kristian B. Oliver, a freshman marketing major from Holcomb.

--Olivia M. Pickering, a sophomore pre-accounting major from Hattiesburg.

--Telia J. Rasco, a junior educational psychology major from Cullman, Alabama.

--Jasmin N. Revels, a junior interdisciplinary studies major from Lawrenceville, Alabama.

--Anna O. Scholes, a junior business administration major from Germantown, Tennessee.

--Laney G. Shemwell, a sophomore liberal arts major from Arlington, Tennessee.

--Allison K. "Allie" Shirley, an incoming freshman from Meridian majoring in biological sciences/pre-dental.

--Andrea K. Smith, a sophomore food science, nutrition and health promotion/food and nutrition major from Auburn, Alabama.

--Callie B. Stevens, a junior kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Cullman, Alabama.

--Samantha L. Weems, a sophomore marketing major from Ocean Springs.

--Haley J. Wingo, a freshman elementary education/early childhood major from Hernando.

Pom Squad:

--Alexis A. Krohn, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Vancleave.

--Ali E. Evans, an incoming freshman from Brookhaven majoring in pre-accounting.

--Alison E. "Ali" Floyd, a freshman psychology major from Hattiesburg.

--Alivia P. Roberts, a sophomore communication/broadcasting major from Shannon.

--Amber M. Pineda, a sophomore kinesiology/sports studies major from Hattiesburg.

--Ashley R. "Becca" Denney, a sophomore liberal arts major from Marion.

--Brecken K. Kane, a freshman liberal arts major from Pearl.

--Casey N. Miller, a sophomore kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

--Catherine N. Faught, an incoming freshman from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in food science, nutrition and health promotion.

--Emily D. Nick, a junior secondary education/social studies education major from Kathleen, Georgia.

--Gracyn A. Head, an incoming freshman from Hattiesburg majoring in medical technology.

--Haley E. Dellaccio, an incoming freshman from Vestavia Hills, Alabama, majoring in elementary education/early childhood.

--Kaitlyn E. May, a junior educational psychology major from Katy, Texas.

--Mallory E. Tucker, a freshman pre-accounting major from Oxford.

--Mary E. "Mary Beth" McClung, an incoming freshman from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology.

--Mary Haley Humphreys, an incoming freshman from Brandon majoring in elementary education/early childhood.

--Mary Katherine Mattiace, a junior elementary education/middle school major from Ocean Springs.

--Sydney M. Woloshyn, a sophomore kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Collierville, Tennessee.

--Taylor J. Shelton, a sophomore kinesiology/sports studies major from Memphis, Tennessee.

--Taylor E. Turcotte, a senior kinesiology/sports studies major from Waveland.

--Zoey T. Gibson, an incoming freshman from Loxley, Alabama, majoring in food science, nutrition and health promotion/food and nutrition.

Mascots:

--Trevon D. "Trey" Allen, a sophomore biological engineering/biomedical engineering major from Hoover, Alabama.

--Joseph M. "JoJo" Dodd, a senior economics major from Picayune.

--Tyler J. Glover, a junior music education/instrumental major from Cairo, Georgia.

--William J. Harris, a freshman kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology major from Ridgeland.

--Justin E. Johnson, a senior business administration major from Forest.

--Matthew D. "Matt" Merchant, a senior communication/broadcasting major from Springville, Alabama.

--Wade Sims, a senior interdisciplinary studies major from Madison.