The Oak Harbor High School cheer program is considered one of the best in Washington, and first-year coach Kimberly Cherry will attempt to continue that success.

The new coach, however, will have to reach that goal with basically a new team.

Only two letter winners, seniors Juliet Aspery and Hailey Williamson, return from last year.

Key newcomers, according to Cherry, are Arcadia Callahan and Mikhala Gittens, and the pair should help add depth to the inexperienced team.

Cherry, who cheered for Oak Harbor during her school days, said her team is young but has a strong bond: “We are a family and we all get along very well.”

Cherry’s expectations for her team are to “promote community and school spirit and to continue to volunteer in the community.”

The season will be successful, Cherry said, if the Wildcats “grow as a squad” and “reach the standard that we set at the beginning of the season to set the bar high and go over it.”