WT Spirit Team to Make 2024 Debut Sept. 14 at Home Football Opener

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

CANYON, Texas — A new squad of West Texas A&M University students is ready to get fans in the zone, beginning with the home football opener this week.

WT Spirit’s Game Day Team will make its official debut during WT Football’s game against Western Colorado University. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium on WT’s Canyon campus.

“This year’s team is truly exceptional,” said Annalisa Mayhew, Spirit Teams head coach, who was hired in August. “Their drive is inspiring, and their constant growth amazes me. What sets this program apart from the past years is the use of specialized skills not only to entertain, but more importantly to lead the crowd and connect the fans to the football game. This team’s enthusiasm and spirit is unmatched, and they are excited to unconditionally support the Buffs this season.”

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

Currently, WT Spirit 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.

In addition to the Game Day Team, which leads the crowd at various athletic and community events, WT Spirit also includes the Bucky mascot team. Plans call for the addition of a Maroon Motion Team, the University’s version of a dance squad.

Game Day Team members for 2024-2025 include Clara Bender, a junior elementary education major from Abernathy; Alexis Bolton, a senior general business major from White Deer; Jax Brooks, a senior Where the Learning Continues student from Amarillo; Tyler Chase, a sophomore health sciences major from Whitharral; Makayla Childs, a freshman environmental engineering major from Stuttgart, Arkansas; Samantha Duran, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Roswell, New Mexico; Savannah Evans, a junior nursing major from Canyon; Lexi Farmer, a senior digital media and communication major from Amarillo; Genesis Flores, a junior sports and exercise sciences major from Perryton; Sam Gonzalez, a junior psychology major from Spearman; Kennadi Hanlin, a freshman agribusiness major from Littlefield; Aaliyah Harris, a sophomore elementary education major from Lubbock; Sirrah Harris, a junior nursing major from Lubbock; Savannah Little, a senior animal science major from Roscoe; Karyme Martinez, a sophomore biology major from Seminole; Fantasia Morgan, a sophomore dance major from Roswell, New Mexico; D’Andre Ordonez, a sophomore psychology major from Amarillo; Ribbon Saisasong, a sophomore computer information systems major from Amarillo; Monica Salas, a senior education major from Canadian; Janelle Smith, a freshman health sciences major from Plainview; and Kaitlyn Snyder, a junior nursing major from Bushland.

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 nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research 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. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also 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 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: The West Texas A&M University Game Day Team includes, top from left, Kennedi Hanlin, Monica Salas, Aaliyah Harris, Lexi Farmer, Kaitlyn Snyder, Clara Bender, Savannah Little, Sirrah Harris, Karyme Martinez and Fantasia Morgan, and, bottom from left, Jax Brooks, Makayla Childs, Samantha Duran, Sam Gonzalez, Savannah Evans, Alexis Bolton, Genesis Flores, Ribbon Saisasong, Tyler Chase and D'Andre Ordonez. Also pictured is Bucky, center.

—WT—