RHS cheerleader signs for UNA

Russellville High School had its only Division I signee sign her letter of intent this week, as Kaydee Don Holland will officially be cheering at the University of North Alabama in the fall.

Holland, who served as team captain for the Russellville varsity cheerleaders this year and has been cheering for Russellville since seventh grade, was joined by friends, family and coach for the signing ceremony Wednesday afternoon.

“I’ve always known I wanted to keep cheering,” Holland said. “I knew I didn’t want to see it end after my senior year.”

Russellville varsity cheerleading coach Stephanie Mayfield said signing day for Holland has been a long time coming.

“It’s what she has always wanted to do, so we have been looking forward to this for a while,” Mayfield said. “She is so sweet and works hard, so we know she is going to do great.”

Holland’s mother, AnnaKay Holland, said her daughter is already having virtual meets with UNA teammates to learn material and had a fitting for uniforms Tuesday.

“Things are starting to come together,” AnnaKay Holland said. “We are just so proud of her.”

The RHS cheerleader said cheering at UNA has been the goal since she met UNA head coach Megan Dye last year at a mock trial. “She reached out to me this year and asked me to come try out to cheer,” she said. “That meant a lot to me, to know that she specifically wanted me.”

RHS Principal Jason Goodwin said he is proud of Holland and knows she will reflect positively on Russellville during her time at UNA.

“We have a lot of great athletes here at Russellville, and they always impress us with what they are able to accomplish,” Goodwin said.

Holland said after looking forward to becoming a collegiate cheerleader for years, it finally seems real.

“We will get to start practices in August, but I’ve been doing Zoom meets with a lot of my teammates and got to meet a lot of them whenever I had my fitting,” Holland said. “It is all starting.”

Mayfield said she is looking forward to watching Holland chase her dreams and is excited to see how the newest Lion cheerleader continues to impact north Alabama.