With a new season of sports about to kickoff, the Murray State cheerleaders are preparing to pump up students and fans to get into the action.

This year, under the direction of first-year cheerleading coach Brittany Walls, the cheerleaders have numerous events planned in addition to the home football and basketball games.

This is Walls’ first season as head coach at Murray State, but it isn’t the first time she has worn blue and gold. She cheered for the Racers from 2006-2008.

Following graduation, Walls took a job at Reidland High School where she has spent the last four years.

During her time there, the team did more than just cheer on the football and basketball teams. That same mentality is something she will bring with her to Murray State.

Walls said the team will be doing an abundance of community service events such as pep rallies for testing and school events. She said she has received calls asking for the cheerleaders to attend local schools since she first took the position.

The team will also focus on fundraising this year. It will host a car wash 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sept. 21 in the Office Depot parking lot.

Walls said she would like to work toward a Murray State calendar, pancake breakfast, rebate night and other events.

All proceeds that the team raises will go toward its uniform costs or other team necessities for the upcoming season.

Beyond this season, Walls said she hopes to enter competitions, not solely cheer.

“We won’t be competing this year,” Walls said. “I hope maybe to compete in the future.”

The first appearance for the squad will be Sept. 7 when the Racer football team hosts Campbellsville.

Story by Tom Via, Contributing Writer