Hundreds of cheerleaders across Texas prepare to pack the stands at Shotwell Stadium for the Iraan versus Wellington playoff game in Abilene Friday night.
Officials with the City of Abilene said they received almost 600 RSVP’s from cheerleaders planning to receive a free meal before the game courtesy of Chick-Fil-A.
Iraan ISD says over 700 cheerleaders have confirmed they are going to attend the game.
Cheerleaders and their sponsors will also get into the playoff game for free. They just need to wear cheer uniforms or jackets to qualify!
Iraan ISD received more than 1100 videos of support from cheer teams across the nation.
The Iraan Braves plan to leave for the playoff game and travel down Highway 67 then Highway 83 to Abilene. Towns along the way plan to line the streets with signs for the team, and fire trucks with each county will escort the team as they make their way to Abilene.
This show of support comes after the Iraan Braves cheer bus was struck by an eighteen-wheeler on I-20 while the team was traveling home after winning their quarter-final game against Munday.
Several cheerleaders sustained serious injuries, and the cheer coach sponsor, Elizabeth Pope, 52, was killed.
Iraan Cheerleader Alumna and current cheer-coach Starla Warren felt called to action after hearing of the tragic event, creating a Facebook page call BRAVE Strong Cheerleaders in an attempt to rally support for the team.
A post asking for surrounding cheer coaches to help her “pack the stands with cheerleaders at the Iraan playoff game Friday” has since gone viral, getting almost 2,000 shares.
The following teams are just a few of the dozens that have expressed interest in coming:
- Randall High School
- Abilene High School
- Arlington High School
- Midland High School
- Abilene Cooper High School
- Odessa High School
- Permian High School
- Midland Lee High School
- Munday High School
- Garden City High School
- Christoval High School
(Information from bigcountryhomepage.com)
