First Row: Shannon Mudd Leutheuser,’94, Angie DeFrank Linnenbringer,’94, Lara Tocco Hall, ’94

Second Row: Molly Dwyer Klapp, ’96,  Katherine Taylor McMillen, ’96,  Paula Ulrich Eichholz, ’96, Katie Slater  Hicks, ’96, Jackie Kaufman Henderson, ’96

Third Row: Anne Gray Green, ’95, Calen M. Dallavis, ’95,  Aimee Turner Kem, ’95,  Andrea Sgroi Denny, ’95, Robyn Artis Gaynor, ’95

There was a strong rivalry between IWA and St. Thomas Aquinas-Mercy (Now Trinity High School).  IWA cheerleaders had placed second to Aquinas Mercy for two years.  As a result, the team members resolved that they would not finish second again.  Their training began in the summer under the  stunting tutelage of Tony Willoughby - an individual who believed that water breaks were a privilege and not a necessity, and his assistant, Lindsey Roberts,  whose famous last words to the team (when they were complaining)  were, "Girls, do not come crying when they announce Incarnate Word Academy as second.”  

 The six weeks before State, the girls practiced every Sunday for 3 hours, knowing that when Deb Rothweiler, head coach, said, "One more time,” it really meant 5 more times and that they had to drill every move –including stunts without question.  The final two weeks before state, the team met every morning from 6:45 to 8:00 in addition to the afternoon practices; they had to be ready for volleyball  games and the beginning of the basketball season. The varsity squad consisted of fourteen members: four seniors, five juniors, and five sophomores. These fourteen young women were ecstatic when the long awaited State Competition arrived and the IWA Red Knights won the championship, beating their long time rivals, the Aquinas Mercy Falcons.