Bourbon County and Paris cheer squads bound for Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando
Greyhounds earn first-ever UCA bid as Colonels prepare for ninth consecutive appearance – #THECOUNTY … #THECITY, on the big stage in Florida! 
IVAN K. RICE l doctorofsports@aol.com
PARIS, KY – Florida, here they come, the cheer squads shaking off Kentucky’s ice, snow, and bitter cold as they head south in search of sunshine, soft breezes, and brighter days in the Sunshine State. 
Two cheer programs, separated by just a few miles and connected by decades of community pride, are preparing for the same destination, but their paths to get there couldn’t be more different. Paris High School is stepping onto the national stage for the first time in school history, while Bourbon County packed for what has become a yearly ritual… another trip to the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.
For Paris, it’s a breakthrough moment. For Bourbon County, it’s a continuation of excellence. And for both, it’s a chance to represent the Paris-Bourbon County community on one of the brightest stages in high school athletics.
The road to Florida started in LEX
The journey for both squads took shape back in December inside Heritage Hall at Rupp Arena, where the UCA Bluegrass Regionals brought together some of the strongest cheer programs in Kentucky. Coaches Leigh-Clay Estes (Bourbon County) and Stacey Speaks (Paris) arrived with different expectations but the same goal, earn a bid to the 2026 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship.
The stakes were high. The pressure was real. And both teams delivered.
Bourbon County, competing in the Large Varsity Coed Game Day division, turned in a performance that earned them second place behind defending champion Woodford County. The runner-up finish added to an already impressive season for the Colonels, who also claimed 10th Region runner-up honors and secured a return trip to the KHSAA State Championships.
What made their performance even more remarkable was the preparation, or lack of it. With so many multi-sport athletes on the roster, the Colonels had only four full practices leading up to regionals. 
“This group stands out as one of the most gifted teams I’ve had the privilege to coach over the past 11 years,” Coach Estes said. “It’s clear our team benefits greatly from exceptional senior leadership.”
Paris, meanwhile, arrived at regionals with a different kind of energy, the excitement of a program rediscovering its competitive identity. The Greyhounds had placed fifth at the 10th Region competition earlier in the season, but the UCA Bluegrass Regionals marked their first attempt at the event. Competing in the Varsity Coed Non-Tumbling Game Day division, Paris finished ninth overall, a placement strong enough to secure the program’s first-ever bid to nationals.
For a team that had set “qualify for nationals” as its summer camp goal, the moment was emotional.
“It’s truly an honor to coach this team. They are very young and inexperienced but what’s important is they have true grit, determination and are eager to learn,” Speaks said. “Back in the summer at camp, their team goal was to get to compete and to qualify for Nationals this season, because it’s hard watching all the schools around you getting opportunities that you don’t get, so that was my goal for them as well. I wanted to give them this opportunity and experience.”
A stage unlike any other 
The Universal Cheerleaders Association, founded 50 years ago, has grown into one of the most influential organizations in the sport. UCA now oversees roughly 50 virtual and regional events each year, culminating in the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship, the crown jewel of high school cheer.
The UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC) is the nation’s largest cheerleading competition for high school teams, drawing top athletes and teams from across the country. Known as a pinnacle event in high school cheerleading, NHSCC has been featured on ESPN for over three decades, bringing elite performances and unforgettable moments to millions of viewers.
For Paris, this is uncharted territory. For Bourbon County, it’s a familiar arena, but with new goals.
Two teams, two missions
Both squads should have already arrived in Florida (weather permitting) for the three-day competition that runs Friday through Sunday. Bourbon County enters with momentum and experience, having finished 10th in the co-ed division last year. This time, the Colonels are aiming even higher.
“They’re now striving for a Top 5 spot,” Estes said. “Their determination fills me with pride, and I’m eagerly anticipating their success.”
Paris, meanwhile, is embracing the role of the underdog, and the joy of the moment.
“Being that this is their very first time on a national stage, we’re definitely the underdog,” Speaks said. “I’m ok with that. All we can do is move up from there. This year is all about learning and that’s what we are going to do. We will go down there, do our very best, and take in everything we can while making lifetime memories for this team.”
For the Greyhounds, this trip is about building a foundation, a chance to show younger athletes what’s possible and to plant the seeds of a competitive future.
For the Colonels, it’s about elevating a standard, proving that their program belongs among the nation’s elite year after year.
A county represented with pride
Two programs. Two stories. One destination.
Paris is making history. Bourbon County is extending its legacy. 
For Paris, it’s the beginning of a new chapter, one written with grit, belief, and the joy of breaking through barriers that once felt out of reach. For Bourbon County, it’s another stride in a tradition built on excellence, leadership, and the steady confidence of a program that knows exactly what it takes to compete among the nation’s best.
And together, they’ll carry the spirit of their schools and their community onto one of the biggest stages in high school cheerleading.
Three claps for both cheer squads, they certainly deserve it, no matter what unfolds under those bright Florida lights. 
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2025-2026 PARIS VARSITY CHEERLEADERS – Paris cheer squad that will represent the school at the UCA National Championship: Zaraya Dale, Marcella Gonzales, Makenna Banks, Gracelyn Sharp, Joshana McGhee, Kyla Ramirez, Assistant Coach Heather Tumey, Callie Ball, Sagen Oliver, Lucy Deskins, Khloe Long, Alexandrea Bratton, Sareeya Ramirez, Tiana Jones, Akari Richardson, Kendra Whittamore, Cooper Denninghoff, and Lexi Cooper, Kyra Clark, Sadie Williams, Maria Harriage, Amiyah Fields, and Grace Wren. The Head Coach is Stacey Speaks, and she’s assisted by Heather Tumey.
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2025-2026 BOURBON COUNTY VARSITY CHEERLEADERS – Bourbon County cheer squad that will represent the school at the UCA National Championship: Raeanna Watkins, Gabby Rojas, Brailyn Hudnall, Luz Arguello, Anialyah Willhite, Kensli Roe, Jaymeson Jones, Alaina Langfels, Peyton Stephens, Reagan Berry, Addi Carr, Jaylynn Gitch, Kennedi Mitchell, Brooke Davis, Taylee Stapleton, Lexi Herrington, Shelbie Pitts, Racheliez Castro, Gavin McCarty, David Mendoza Solis, Aaron O’Brien, Noah Warner, Wyatt Ritchie (Mascot), Cameron Caudill, Matthew Ritchie, Marleigh Estes. and Christopher Wells. The Head Coach is Leigh-Clay Estes, and she’s assisted by Ashley Yazell-Ware.
