Chloe Adams is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication student assigned to cover Arizona College Prep for AZPreps365.com.

PHOENIX —  Under the Friday night lights, Arizona College Prep’s Spiritline gathers together for a pregame prayer, a brief moment of calm before the high energy of the night takes over.

At ACP, the traditional sideline cheer team and the dance-based pomline come together as one united front: Knightline. It is ACP’s own twist on a traditional spiritline, where together they lead the charge in school pride and spirit.

“School can always provide a sort of community for every student. It’s cheer’s role to smile and take time to exhibit that school spirit that makes everyone feel like they’re part of something,” ACP cheer captain Eden Nakata said.

After a rocky start to the season with two of Knightline’s coaches leaving, new leaders coach Belle Medlock, Reegan Sobieski and ‘O’ all stepped up to lead the team forward.

Medlock took on the role of program director and varsity cheer coach. Sobieski, an ACP spiritline alumni, is the junior varsity coach, and also helps out her former cheer coach, coach Belle, with the varsity team. 

Sobieski said Coach O is a big help with the administrative paperwork. Coach O is temporarily filling in as pomline head coach and ACP is actively looking for someone to officially fill in that position.

“Our biggest thing is creating a program that our kids can be proud of, making that our emphasis and really building a community,” Medlock said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Arizona College Prep’s Spiritline smiling in their home gym. Pictured left to right: Brooklyn Hauber, Eleanor Colombe and Peyton Kokkonen. (Photo courtesy of Reegan Sobieski)

 

Knightline has an annual fundraiser called ‘Lil’ Knights Clinic,’ that allows current ACP spiritline members to take younger kids under their wing. 

ACP reaches out to elementary schools within their district and informs them of this chance for the kids to experience being a cheerleader for the night, Medlock said. 

The $50 participation fee includes a T-shirt, a bow, a set of pom poms and instruction in several cheers. 

“They love being able to be a varsity cheerleader,” Medlock said. 

Medlock said that Knightline is planning to do this fundraiser again during basketball season, but this time geared more towards junior high students.

“It allows them (the kids in the community) to see us, the ACP Knights Spiritline, as a friend and good example for a school they can look up to,” cheer captain Bella Buscas said. It also teaches the underclassmen how to be good leaders for these ‘lil knights’.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arizona College Prep’s Spiritline with their mini’s at LITTLE NIGHTS 2025. (Photo courtesy of Ali Zollinger Photography)

 

ACP’s homecoming football game on Oct. 10, also doubles as their Alumni Night, where Knightline is welcoming back some of its past members.

Medlock said that alumni in attendance will get special pins and have the option to buy a spiritline alumni T-shirt. Alumni will also get to come down on the sideline with the current Knightline for a quarter, Medlock said.

Then, the alumni and current Knightline members will all watch the halftime show from the sidelines together so everyone is involved. Medlock said that many people don’t continue to cheer after high school, so this is their chance to enjoy it again, while also seeing how much their school has grown.

“I wanted to do ACP cheer because it looked like a fun and loving environment. One where the girls support each other and cheer for each other always,” Buscas said.