WT Spirit’s Gameday, Pom Squad to Make Season Debut at Home Football Opener

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Spirit is high at West Texas A&M University prepares for its home opening football game, which will feature the debut of this year’s Gameday Squad through WT Spirit .

The 25-member team will be joined at all six home games by the return of the Pom Squad, a dance team featuring 13 students.

“This year is a milestone for our Spirit Program. After four years, the Pom Squad is making its return to football, and they’re ready to make a powerful impact on game days,” said Annalisa Mayhew, spirit teams head coach. “Our Gameday Squad is also stronger than ever, with a new wave of incredible talent joining the program. Together, the Spirit Program will bring unmatched energy and pride to every performance, elevating the game day atmosphere to create a meaningful fan experience.”

The teams will perform during the Sept. 4 home opener against Colorado School of Mines at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium and at the rest of WT Football’s home games.

WT Spirit was launched in 2021 under the umbrella of the Office for Student Engagement and Leadership.

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Photo: WT Pom Squad members for 2025 to 2026 include, from left, Ezequiel Riddley, Makenlie Smith, Mylynn Avila, Alexa Montanez, Aryal Montes, Valeria Hernandez, Aylin Gutierrez, Victoria Thomas, Micayela Vasquez, Addyson Ratzlaff and Davel Hernandez.

Currently, WT Spirit, which also includes the Bucky mascot team, performs at volleyball, football and basketball games and makes special appearances at New Student Orientation, Buff Branding, Start Strong Week and Family Weekend, among other events.

WT Spirit members must be fulltime students with a 2.0 grade point average.

Gameday Squad members for 2025-2026 include Alexi Atchison, a freshman elementary education major from Farmersville; Haley Baker, a freshman general business major from Canadian; Aleyda Barba, a freshman psychology major from Amarillo; Clara Bender, a senior elementary education major from Abernathy; Kayla Dailey, a sophomore sports and exercise sciences major from Lexington, South Carolina; Kaitlyn Davenport, a freshman criminal justice major from Plainview; Zailey Edwards, a freshman biology / pre-med major from Amarillo; Savannah Evans, a junior nursing major from Canyon; Genesis Flores, a senior sports and exercise sciences major from Perryton; Kailynn Gonzales, a freshman nursing major from Plainview; Arjelia Grcie, a freshman pre-nursing major from Amarillo; Hannah Grinie, a freshman pre-nursing major from Amarillo; Kennadi Hanlin, a sophomore agricultural business and economics major from Littlefield; Sirrah Harris, a junior nursing major from Lubbock; Christy Hevrin, a senior agriculture major from Vega; Payton Johnson, a freshman pre-vet major from Pampa; Monique Lara, a freshman dance major from Lockney; Emily Miers, a freshman health sciences major from Lamesa; Fernanda Moreno, a freshman management major from Amarillo; D’Andre Ordonez, a junior general business major from Amarillo; Oziah Owens, a freshman criminal justice major from Plainview; Julissa Rollin, a senior communication studies major from Fresno, California; Ribbin Saisasong, a junior computer information systems major from Amarillo; Monica Salas, a senior education major from Canadian; and Kate Stansell, a freshman agriculture education major from Midland.

Pom Squad members for 2025-2026 include Mylynn Avila, a freshman general business major from Amarillo; Davel Hernandez, a freshman dance major from Amarillo; Aylin Nuñez Gutierrez, a freshman marketing major from Amarillo; Valeria Hernandez, a freshman chemistry major from Amarillo; Alexa Montañez, a sophomore political science major from Amarillo; Aryal Montes, a freshman dance major from Tulia; Fantasia Morgan, a junior dance major from Roswell, New Mexico; Cadence Nickelberry, a freshman dance education major from Amarillo; Addyson Ratzlaff, a freshman dance education major from Amarillo; Ezequiel Riddley, a freshman dance education major from Amarillo; Makenlie Smith, a freshman sports and exercise sciences major from Lubbock; Victoria Thomas, a freshman criminal justice major from Amarillo; and Micayela Vasquez, a freshman dance education major from Amarillo.

Offering students educational experiences outside the classroom that allows them to showcase their abilities and accomplishments is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World .

That plan is fueled by the historic  One West  comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $170 million.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Top photo: The 2025-2026 Gameday Squad for West Texas A&M University will make its season debut Sept. 4 during WT Football's home opener against Colorado School of Mines at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium. Members include, front from left,  D’Andre Ordonez, Monica Salas, Kailynn Gonzales, Alexi Atchison, Aleyda Barba, Zailey Edwards, Ribbin Saisasong, Fernanda Moreno, Hannah Grinie, Savannah Evans, Sirrah Harris, Christy Hevrin and Oziah Owens, and, back from left, Kayla Dailey, Kate Stansell, Emily Miers, Haley Baker, Payton Johnson, Arjelia Grice, Monique Lara, Kennadi Hanlin, Kaitlyn Davenport and Clara Bender.

—WT—