A Fayette senior cheerleader signed a commitment to cheer for the Columbia College Cougars next year and be a member of the competitive stunt team. Madison Ragain made it official Tuesday afternoon during a signing ceremony amid family, friends, and her fellow cheerleaders.

“I’m super excited,” she said.

Ragain said she chose Columbia College after visiting the campus and meeting the cheer team. “It felt very at home to me.”

Columbia College has had a cheer program since 2021 and sports two squads: a sideline cheer team for Cougars basketball games and a competitive stunt team that contends against NAIA schools and the American Midwest Conference (AMC).

Ragain said she is excited to be a part of both teams. “I like sideline. It’s something that I love. I’ve always loved stunt team. With stunt team there’s always something new, something different that you can get into the groove of and get new skills.”

Coach Danniele Liles has led the Columbia College team since it started five years ago. She said Ragain will be a part of both the sideline and competitive teams. “She’s the full package. She’s a great student. She’s a great athlete. She has a great attitude. She’s ready to go out and take on the world and that’s the kind of kid we’d like to have join our program,” Coach Liles said.

Ragain will not only receive a cheer scholarship but an academic scholarship as well to Columbia College, where she plans to study nursing, possibly focusing on pediatric care. “I know that I want to be a nurse and they have an excellent nursing program,” she said.

In the meantime, Fayette fans can still cheer along with Ragain and the cheer squad during Falcon basketball games. Fayette’s next home game is this Friday night against Linn for Courtwarming.