Football season is a pretty busy time for Wagoner High senior Liz Menees who is on the Bulldog cheer squad but also plays clarinet in the Wagoner band.

“It’s really stressful this time of year,” Liz admits. “So I’ll cheer during the first half of the football games then go perform with the band at halftime and then go right back to cheering.”

Liz’s path to cheer started in third grade when she would cheer at little league games.

“I first got into gymnastics when I was little and then did competitive gymnastics until the eighth grade. I had always admired the older cheer leaders, so I started varsity cheer in high school my freshman year in football and the last three years have cheered for football and wrestling.”

The highlight of her cheer career came last year when the Bulldogs played for the Class 4A football championship.

“Last year’s state game was so much fun to cheer at because the energy and spirit were so high and it was fun to be a part of that atmosphere especially since we won,” said Menees who is in the National Honor Society, art club and Tri-N, which is an honorary musical society.

And that brings us to her musical talents.

“I come from a musical family-everyone plays an instrument, so it was pretty natural for me to get involved in that and so I started playing in middle school,” explained Liz.

Right now the cheer squad is making preparations for November’s Game Day competition.

“This will be the fourth year I’ve taken part in Game Day and I’m really hoping we can qualify for state this year for the first time.”

Liz’s coach, Angie Lancaster, had many kudos for one of her senior leaders.

“Liz is a natural leader on our varsity team and is looked up to by the underclassmen. She excels in all aeras of cheerleading and academics. She is a joy to be around and one of the most coachable athletes I know.”

Liz Menees plans on attending college next year and hopes to eventually become a speech pathologist.