Fisk Cheer Squad Wins Traditional Cheer Title

Hard work brings Inaugural HBCUAC championship trophy to Nashville

March 3, 2025

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (March 3, 2025) - Katara Grissom is known around Fisk University as someone that wears many hats. This past weekend, she added another piece of headgear, as the Fisk Cheer Squad was crowned the Traditional Cheer Title champions at the HBCU Athletic Conference's Inaugural Cheer & Dance Showcase in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Grissom's dedication to the team and their growth is truly inspiring. The evolution of the conference and the spotlight on cheerleading is a testament to their hard work and passion. Since 2015, she has made it a point to travel her squad with the teams during the postseason tournament. Most times it has been Fisk Cheer and the host school. Now ten years later, there is a competition set up with dance and cheer. Something that Grissom is thrilled about because of the hard work that goes into cheer.

"With this being the inaugural year for the HBCUAC Cheer & Dance Showcase, I'm extremely proud of the team for taking home the title in the Traditional Cheer category.," Grissom noted. "We put in a considerable amount of work this year to get to this point. We will continue to build on this new foundation as we set our sights on next year to be even better!"

Showcasing their incredible talent and hard work, the victory was a testament to the dedication and effort put in by the team and their coaches. The team's success is a result of countless early mornings and late nights spent perfecting their routines. Their hard work has truly paid off, and this title is just the beginning for the Fisk University cheer program.

Senior Kai Kellam has been on the team for four years. Her enthusiasm after finding out they won truly captured the spirit of teamwork and dedication. Her journey as a cheerleader at Fisk University is both inspiring and a testament to the power of hard work and community support

"This victory means everything to me," said Kellam. "This was my first opportunity to compete with the team. It shows that all our hard work, along with the support from our family, friends, and the Fisk community, truly pays off. I'm so proud of my teammates and thankful for my coaches. Winning this title at my final performance as a Bulldog was the perfect way to end my cheer journey. Before we took the floor, I reminded my team to have fun and give their best. It was never about winning; we just wanted to represent our university in the best way possible. But in the end, OUR best was THE best."

Taiyonni Hill, a graduating senior and captain, expressed her pride and gratitude for being part of such a historic moment for the Fisk University cheer program. Just like Grissom, Hill has been a dependable asset to the university. From stepping in to be a mascot, to being an ambassador for Fisk, to this past summer interning with the Los Angeles Lakers, Hill has been a solid representative. This win has given her yet another feather in her cap.

"This means the world to me, working with my amazing team and my coaches throughout the early mornings and late nights really showed me that hard work will always pay off. I am certain that this is just the beginning for the Fisk University cheer program. I am honored to be a part of history,"

TEAM MEMBERS

Taiyonni Hill, Captain

Kai Kellam, Captain

Lauren Arnao

Tristan Cyrus

Nylah Ellzey

Zöe Goolsby