ERIE, Pa. — The continual growth of the Gannon competitive cheer and dance team doesn't seem ready to slow down in 2020.
 
In its second year of having four teams, the program looks to continue the upward trajectory that it's showcased throughout its first six seasons.
 
"Back when we started out in 2014, we only had 13 people on the mat," said first-year head coach Kerri Makay (Girard, Pa./Girard), who has been part of the program since its inception as a student-athlete or coach. "It's so crazy to go from 13 people to 70 people in just seven years. Not even just the numbers, but the growth in talent has been incredible."
 
From that start, the Knights have steadily improved their performance, culminating in three top-five finishes at the national championships last season.
 
This season will be the second for the gameday and dance teams, who now have a year under their belts and understand more of the intricacies of their programs. It will be the seventh trip to Daytona for all-girl, and fifth for coed, who have both put up a top-six finishes in each of the past three seasons.
 
"You go out there each year and do the best you can," Makay said. "We tell our athletes that on that last day at Daytona, you want to step off the mat and be able to be proud of what you put out there. But at the same time, we want to win a championship. We are so close, with our performances last year, and our expectation for this year is that we're going to go out and improve on that."
 
Gannon opens up its 2020 season on Saturday, heading to the Spirit Against Cancer Competition at Penn State Behrend. A busy month of March is capped by the annual Road to Daytona Showcase at the Hammermill Center on March 29.
 
The season wraps up April 9-11 at the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
"The first competition of the season always gets here so quickly," Makay said. "We haven't had our routines for too long yet, but after having seen this program grow over the past seven years, we're more ready than we've ever been."
 
 
Roster Breakdown
Gameday
Nationals Placements: 2019 – 3rd
Returners: Brittany Barr, Halie Christy (West Sunbury, Pa./Moniteau), Hailey Connors (Girard, Pa./Girard), Madelyn Feyko (Wheatfield, N.Y./Mount St. Mary), Maddie Gresco (Ridgway, Pa./Ridgway Area), Nadya Makay (Girard, Pa./Girard), Brooke Pater (Berlin Center, Ohio/Western Reserve), Lexy Russell (North Ridgeville, Ohio/Lorain County JVS), Kylee Schaumleffel (Custer City, Pa./Bradford Area), Miriam Van Harn (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian)
Newcomers: Maya Hayes (Buffalo, N.Y./Hamburg), Rylee Kline (Saint Marys, Pa./Saint Marys), Isabella O'Donnell (Pendleton, N.Y./Starpoint), Chay Oden (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette), Sydney Williams (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny)
 
Coed
Nationals Placements: 2019 – 5th | 2018 – 6th | 2017 – 4th | 2016 – 5th
Returners: Abigayle Brown (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny), Josh Evans (Stockbridge, Ga./Woodland), Jaelah George (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Maryvale), Garett Matley (Tyrone, Pa./Tyrone), Abby Owen (Madison Township, Pa./North Pocono), Karsyn Plis (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee), Riley Ritson (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield Area), Andie Simeone (Johnstown, Pa./Richland), Becca Slack (Livonia, N.Y./Livonia), Meghan VanEssendelft (Long Island, N.Y./Sachem East), Laurel Yohn (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area)
Newcomers: Abigail Davis (/), Jenna Puhalla (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area), Maura Sullivan (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois Central), Brandon Mansell (New Brighton, Pa./Blackhawk)
 
All-Girl
Nationals Placements: 2019 – 3rd | 2018 – 6th | 2017 – 5th | 2016 – Top 8 | 2015 – 6th | 2014 – 8th
Returners: Mara Beschler (Caledonia, N.Y./Caledonia-Mumford), Samantha Bigley (Kane, Pa./Kane), Gabrielle Cabrera (Lilly, Pa./Penn Cambria), Shanann Cantando (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads), Kara Detsch (St. Marys, Pa./Elk County Catholic), Alexis Palmiotto (Oriskany, N.Y./Oriskany), Taylor Pitoniak (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse), Jessica Schaville (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock), Hannah Shelby (Le Roy, N.Y./Le Roy), Kailey Spade (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills), Lacey White (Candor, N.Y./Candor), Hannah Zarzecki (Allentown, Pa./Parkland)
Newcomers: Olivia Ackley (Gowanda, N.Y./Gowanda), Kaley Byerly (East Brady, Pa./Karns City), Regan Tomalson (Clyde, Pa./United)
 
Dance
Nationals Placements: 2019 – 8th
Returners: Kate DuCarme (McMurray, Pa./Canon-McMillan), Carly Colcombe (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin), Julianna Girts (North East, Pa./North East), Courtney Gluz (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon), Alexa Harding (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg), Taylor Keller (Conneaut Lake, Pa./Conneaut Area), Emma Lowers (Grove City, Pa./Grove City), Jessica Mann (Lakeview, N.Y./Frontier Central), Brianna Phillips (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin), Ashley Zinz (Girard, Pa./Girard)
Newcomers: Lauren Buzard (/), Isabella Chatkin (Monroeville, Pa./Oakland Catholic), Grace Clevenger (/), Ryan Gannon (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg), Danielle Gielarowski (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan), Skye Karastury (Conneaut Lake, Pa./Conneaut Area), Shelia Lang (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay), Sasha Ledwin (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial), Mai-li Lee (/), Amanda Pristas (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley), Eunissa Pullium (Erie, Pa./Erie), Kimberly Shepler (Coalport, Pa./Glendale)