They’ve Got Spirit
by Wendy Niles
Pom-poms and excitement filled the air recently as cheer teams from across Central Florida gathered at Lake Mary High School to compete in the Lake Mary Cheerfest in memory of Kaliegh Ottis.
Originally known as the Kaliegh Ottis Memorial Cheerfest, the event was started in 2013 to honor Kaliegh, a former LMHS and University of Central Florida cheerleader who died in a tragic car accident in 2012. The Ottis family created a foundation in Kaliegh’s name as a way of remembering her while also giving back to the sport she loved – cheerleading.
Over time, Kaliegh’s Dream Foundation grew, creating other charitable events that have provided scholarships to LMHS and UCF cheerleaders for more than 10 years.
“Honoring Kaliegh through Cheerfest brought the family lots of joy,” says her sister, Kelsey (Ottis) Oyola. “We enjoyed watching the girls have fun, doing what she loved to do.”
But after hosting Cheerfest for 10 years, the family felt it was time to pass the torch, and they are excited that Lake Mary High School’s cheer team has taken over the event.
Stand Up and Cheer!
More than 50 teams participated in the first annual Lake Mary Cheerfest, including Lake Mary, Seminole, and Winter Springs high schools, Sanford Middle School, and Lake Mary Pop Warner Rams, among many others.
Cheerfest was a big success, despite an electrical outage at the school during the event. The all-day competition drew 1,500 spectators, who had to be moved from the gymnasium to the football field halfway through the event.
The glitch reminded organizers of Kaliegh’s favorite saying, “Don’t let anyone (or in this case, anything) dull your sparkle.”
At the end of the day there were several winners, including the Lake Mary varsity team, which took first place in the All Girl-Traditional category. No stranger to winning, the Lake Mary girls have won eight straight competitive cheer state titles, a fact that makes their coach proud.
“The athleticism of these young ladies is remarkable,” says Coach Paige Black, noting that their competitions require high-level stunting and tumbling. “They work so hard every day to condition, stay in shape, and learn the routines.”
Paige, who has been the head cheer coach at Lake Mary for 10 years, is also proud to champion Cheerfest.
“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to continue the event and Kaliegh’s legacy,” she says.
The Cheerfest initiative is personal for Paige, who knows the Ottis family and taught Kaliegh tumbling at a young age. Kaliegh will remain a part of the Lake Mary Cheerfest, with pictures of her and information about Kaliegh’s Dream Foundation on display at the annual event. And, Kaliegh’s friend and former teammate, Olivia Rosace Fleenor – who has been involved with Cheerfest since its inception and previously coordinated the event – plans to continue as its emcee.
Proceeds from Cheerfest will help support Kaliegh’s Dream Foundation and the LMHS cheer program. Plans are in the works for the next Lake Mary Cheerfest in memory of Kaliegh Ottis, to be held in the fall of 2025.
To learn more about Kaliegh and the foundation, please visit KalieghsDreamFoundation.org.