Cheering for the Owls

The Southwest Football League cheerleaders (pictured) performed during halftime at the Rice University vs. West Point Army game at Rice Stadium. The girls, ages 6 through 11, learned dances and cheers from the Rice cheerleaders at a camp during the summer, and attended twice-weekly practices to prepare for the halftime show. The spirited cheerleaders are (top row, from left) Abigail Schellinger, Hayley Naggar, Marinne Miller, Madeline Spielman, Samantha Chavez, Allie Barker, Trinity El-Hakam, Lily Johnston and Sydney Spielman; (middle row, from left) Eliana Antonoff, Audrey Conklin, Juliette McLaughlin, Sloane Smith, Fiona Duncan, Lauren Young, Jordan Young, Laila Payne, Sophie Polasek, Macyn Tannery and Zoe Clark; (bottom row, from left) MacKensey Fisher, Teresa Pinkston, Ava Munro, Eva Pastore, Payton Spielman, Alexa Negro, Sasha Payne, Elizabeth Burke and Ella Gibson; not pictured: Taylor Vondenstein.

Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at [email protected]. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.