Lori Cantrell has been tabbed to lead cheerleading in the county.
Cantrell, 41, was hired to be Gilmer’s new cheer director May 21 following Noami Esparza’s resignation. Cantrell will oversee the competition and sideline cheer teams at Gilmer High. After a brief hiatus, the competition team at Clear Creek Middle School is set to return this fall.
Cantrell is a native of Gilmer County and a GHS alum. She is married to Jody Cantrell and she has two daughters, Jada Howard and Lola Howard. Cantrell just wrapped up her seventh year in education, and she teaches math, science and social studies at Clear Creek Elementary.
“After receiving the resignation for our former director of cheerleading May 8, Gilmer Schools were very fortunate to have our new director here in our own community,” said county athletic director Paul Standard. “She is a well-known cheer instructor for over 20 years. To have someone with her expertise and knowledge and excitement to lead this group of young ladies, we were very fortunate.
“What she will bring to our school athletic program is the ability to lead it at all levels, which is her vision. Our cheer program is going to take off under her leadership, and we’re excited to have her with us.”
Cantrell is no stranger to the cheer scene. Previously, she owned and operated North Georgia Tumble and Cheer for 17 years.
“I opened the gym when I was 21,” said Cantrell. “Of course we had tumbling classes and all-star cheer classes where they trained to compete. We went to competitions all over the southeast. Our highest achievement, we went to The Summit at Disney World one of the last years we had our all-star team before COVID hit.”
Cantrell has run a school team in the past. She was working in her gym about 15 years ago when a visitor offered a new opportunity, and she took advantage.
“I started the program at Young Harris College,” Cantrell said. “One late night at the gym, this person stopped by. She said she passed by and saw my sign and thought, ‘Hmm, that person could probably help me.’ I wound up going up there, and I accepted the position, started the program and ran it for three years. We built it to where they could get their accreditation so they could start competing.”
She earned a degree in education after high school, but those plans were shelved early on as Cantrell got the gym up and running. Once Lola and Jada were both in school, she entered the classroom as well.
Cantrell discussed her plans for the GHS competition and sideline squads for the upcoming season.
“Given my expertise in the field, I have a desire to enhance the program,” Cantrell said. “I want to take it to a high level and be more competitive, as well as with our showcase events Friday nights at football and basketball games.
“We’re going to increase our sign usage at games. We’re going to incorporate flag runners and do everything we can to increase school spirit. We’re going to be more explosive on the sidelines and have more intense training at our practices.”
June and July are busy months for cheerleaders as they install and nail down their competition routine for the season. Sideline cheerleaders can expect to have their workload increased, and Cantrell and the team have started to get acquainted.
“We’ve had a couple practices, and the girls seem super excited about everything that is coming with the structure and time they’re going to be putting in,” Cantrell said. “Our spirit squads will have far more practices than what they’re used to per week. The girls seem excited about the increased practice schedule.”