Snyder, Hermleigh cheerleaders will attend Iraan playoff game

Snyder and Hermleigh varsity cheerleaders will cheer for the Iraan High School football team at Abilene’s Shotwell Stadium during its Class 2A Division II semifinal game against Wellington Friday at 7 p.m.
Last Friday one of the school’s buses, carrying six cheerleaders and two cheerleader sponsors, was hit by a semi-trailer on I-20 near Big Spring as it returned from a game in Colorado City.
Cheerleader sponsor and computer lab teacher Elizabeth Pope was killed in the accident. The other seven occupants were injured in the crash, but are in satisfactory condition.
Eric Finley, marketing director at University Medical Center (UMC), said the three cheerleaders who were admitted to the hospital were treated and released. He said the other cheerleader sponsor, the sister of Pope, remains at UMC and has been moved to privacy rest at the family’s request.
Snyder and Hermleigh cheerleaders are joining cheerleading squads from around the state to help support the community by cheering for its football team.
Snyder High School cheer sponsor Kristen Early said all of Snyder’s cheer teams will attend the game.
“It is such a sad time in the West Texas cheer community,” Early said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Iraan in this time of tragedy. We wish them all comfort and healing. It is a heartbreaking reality that this kind of incident could happen to anyone.”
She said the cheerleaders from Snyder and Iraan have a special connection. They were at the same cheer camp this summer.
Early said Snyder sent an encouraging video to Iraan.
Teresa Kariainen, cheer sponsor at Hermleigh ISD, said the varsity cheerleading squad will attend Friday night’s game and will wear “Texas Backing the Brave” T-shirts they purchased from Crane ISD, one of the schools raising funds for the affected families in Iraan.
Hermleigh ISD moved its Friday basketball game from 6 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in order for the cheerleaders to participate.
Jerry Gayden, with Abilene ISD, said cheerleaders who attend Iraan’s Friday game in uniform will be admitted free and be allowed to cheer in a designated section. 
Cheerleaders and their sponsor will also be served a pre-game meal, provided free by Abilene’s Chick-fil-A restaurants, in the Round Building at the Expo Center at 5 p.m. Abilene area cheerleaders helped organize the meal.
Organizers are expecting more than 600 cheerleaders and sponsors from Texas and one squad from Eunice, N.M.
Ira ISD cheerleaders will not be able to go to the game, but the school sent Iraan a video message. The Ira Booster Club will be taking donations at the Ira JV basketball tournament on Saturday to raise funds for Iraan.