Cyclones bring it on

Ron Counts, Staff Writer
Published: November 5, 2008

Eastern View’s first-year cheerleading coach Kristen Breeden has been part of several firsts in her short career.

As a senior is high school, she was part of the first cheerleading squad from Culpeper to compete in a regional tournament in 2005.

And this season, the 21-year-old Culpeper native helped the Cyclones’ cheerleaders become the first team at the new school to compete in a regional tournament.

“It was a huge honor to make history,” Breeden said. “My girls went out and gave 110-percent all season, and that’s all I can ask.”

After placing third in the Battlefield District tournament, the Cyclones traveled to Powhattan High School on Nov. 1 to face the top ten teams the region had to offer, but failed to place in the top five.

“Regionals was a whole new ballgame,” Breeden said. “Everybody brought their A-game. It was a tough atmosphere, but the girls did their best.”

The Cyclones roster boasted eight seniors this year, but most of them hadn’t experienced much success before this season.

“It’s like we’re a big family,” EVHS junior Autumn Menefee said. “We worked really hard for two months, but we were all really nervous because it was the first time we had been at a competition like that.”

The first cheerleading team in Eastern View’s ever-growing history was led by a quartet of senior co-captains — Francesca Allen, Kayla Lafond, Shelbie Settle and Sarah Packett.

Allen actually came up with the cheer the team used at both competitions, while her three co-captians helped coach Breeden perfect the routine.

“They were my backbone,” Breeden said of her captains. “They taught me so much and kept me calm through tough days.”

Despite it being their first year in the Battlefield District, the Cyclones were extremely confident heading into the district tournament because of the enormous number of fans that traveled to James Monroe High School to support them.

“The crowd came down, filled the bleachers and embraced the team,” EVHS assistant coach Sherrie Settle said. “After we placed for regionals, the bleachers emptied and everyone was going crazy on the gym floor.”

Starting a new team at a new school can certainly be a trying experience, but Breeden says her team surpassed even her lofty expectations.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better season,” she said. “Before the season, I told the girls that if they wanted to win, it was on them to do so. And they did it themselves. It wasn’t like we held their hands, it was all them.”

Ron Counts can be reached at 825-0771 ext 166 or

Cyclone captains
Vanchessca Allen (Sr.)
Kayla LaFond (Sr.)
Shelbie Settle (Sr.)
Sarah Packett (Sr.)