Brooklyn Koressel is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover an AIA High School for AZPreps365.com

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Kellis Cougars have grown this season, standing at 3-7 compared to 1-9 in 2025, and the credit for that goes beyond the coaches and athletes playing on Friday nights.

There are many pieces that make up the team’s puzzle, but rarely are the other faces on the sideline seen with the same level of importance.

Alicia Bravo is the head spiritline coach at Kellis. She and her squad dedicate their Friday nights to exciting the crowd and boosting the athletes’ energy.

“Our athletes are there to support the football players through the highs and lows of the season,” Bravo said. “We recognize how much work the football team puts in, and it’s important that our spiritline athletes understand their role in encouraging that effort. At the end of the day, we’re all Cougars and that sense of unity is what makes Friday nights special.”

Before school starts, the cheerleaders are at camp beginning to learn the routines and chants that they’ll use to promote school spirit. During the season, cheerleaders practice dances, chants, lifts and halftime routines. 

Their role with the football team is unique because they aren’t only focused on football. They balance the gameday materials with responsibilities at other sports and events.

They are more than halftime entertainment, instead the spiritline squad holds the ideas of school pride, professionalism and leadership close as they keep the team motivated and perform because they are faces of Raymond S. Kellis. 

Head athletic trainer Alexandria McMinn plays a more hands-on role, along with her student trainers, to keep the football team going in a different way.

“I chose high school over college because I feel like I can impact the athletes more at the high school level,” McMinn said. “When I did help out at the college level, there were athletes who would say, ‘My high school athletic trainer was terrible, I don’t want to come see them,’ versus some who had a great relationship and were more willing to come in. I figured if I start that positive relationship during high school, they’re more likely to come to us as they progress to college or pro level.”

Her team’s goal is more than keeping players safe and healthy during a game, but ensuring they’ll be safe in their future football careers.

Ensuring the players  are hydrated and not showing signs of injury is one part of a trainer’s purpose. They also work with the players through the week to address any issues that have come up during practice and previous games, while also providing a listening ear.

Athletic director John Destin is at the top of the system that makes up Kellis football. His administrative position allows him to see the bigger picture necessary for the football team’s success.

He manages the behind the scenes of the team, but outwardly shares that he wants the team to play the best they can.

“Play together,” Destin said. “Stay together. Focus. When there are mistakes, don’t take that as an opportunity to fall apart. But rather an opportunity to see that there’s something that needs to be improved upon. Fight, fight, fight to that last whistle.”

In addition to supervising games, he’s focused behind the scenes scheduling the season, allocating the budget and working alongside the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

What fans see during the roughly three hour games is just a fraction of the work put into the program. There are practices throughout the week, preseason games and frequent footage review.

Kellis’ football program is more than what meets the eye. Friday nights aren’t just two teams facing off on the field, but everyone on the side who got them to the game in the first place.