Developing athletes as strong, confident young women.
What sets the cheer program at Plant City High School apart isn’t just elite execution or championship banners—it’s a culture rooted in family, relationships, and the intentional development of young women. That foundation has propelled Plant City Cheer to extraordinary heights, including back-to-back National Championships in 2025 and 2026.
“Our culture is all about relationships, family, and developing our athletes as strong, confident young women,” Coach Skotti Mesquita said. “Yes, we want exceptional cheerleaders, but more than that, we want young women who live with integrity, lead with heart, and value their team like family.”
That philosophy is lived daily. The coaching staff itself is family-driven, with the head coach working alongside her sister, her mother, and two former athletes who once wore the Plant City uniform themselves. The continuity has created a program where trust, accountability, and connection are inseparable from competitive success.
During competition season, Plant City Cheer practices four to five days a week, often for two to three hours after a full school day. Practices are demanding, involving full-out routines, countless stunt repetitions, and meticulous cleaning of every detail; however, the mental component is just as intentional.
“We talk about our goals constantly and always come back to our ‘why,’” Mesquita explained. “Even when they’re exhausted, you’ll hear them encouraging each other on the mat.”
That balance of intensity and purpose has helped the team remain focused under pressure, particularly on the national stage.
To qualify for UCA High School Nationals, teams must first succeed at a regional event. Plant City earned its spot by winning its division at the UCA Florida Regional in December 2025. Nationals, held at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, features three rounds of competition—Prelims, Semi-Finals, and Finals—against some of the best teams in the country.
Plant City’s ability to stay grounded proved crucial. After winning its first national title in 2025, the pressure of repeating never became a burden.
“They never made it feel like pressure,” Mesquita said. “They focused on being the best version of Plant City they could be. That’s all we ever ask.”
The result: a second consecutive National Championship in 2026, an achievement rarely accomplished in their division.
The accolades speak volumes:
• 7 consecutive Regional Championships (2020–2026)
• 4 State Championships (2022, 2024, 2025, 2026)
• 2 National Championships (2025, 2026)
• 1 World Championship (2025)
Yet the program’s leaders are quick to emphasize that titles are only part of the story.
Academic excellence and personal growth are non-negotiable. Athletes are reminded daily that they are students first and ambassadors not only for their school, but for the entire Plant City community.
“They know their behavior must be exemplary at all times,” Mesquita said. “The same work ethic they bring to the mat has to show up in the classroom.”
When evaluating new athletes, the coaching staff looks beyond skill. Coachability, attitude, passion, and dedication top the list.
“This program requires sacrifice,” Mesquita added. “You have to be willing to learn, take correction, and not fear failure.”
Not every season has ended with a trophy. One of the most defining moments came at High School Nationals in 2024, when Plant City entered the Finals as the top-scoring team but dropped two stunts and finished third.
“That loss was devastating,” Mesquita recalled. “But it changed everything. We came back the next year and won.”
Those moments, she said, reinforce a guiding philosophy shared often with athletes: “It’s just cheerleading.” The phrase serves as a reminder to keep perspective, joy, and growth at the center, even while pursuing excellence.
Preparing athletes for the national stage means acknowledging pressure, not avoiding it. Plant City teaches its athletes to see pressure as a privilege and to focus only on what they can control—their routine, their preparation, and their trust in one another.
“That mindset gives them confidence,” Mesquita said. “When the pressure is highest, they’re composed.”
While firsts: regional, state, and national championships mark milestones in the program’s history, the most meaningful moments happen every day.
“Watching them transform from strangers into sisters in nine months, that’s what defines us,” Mesquita said. “Seeing them grow into leaders and confident young women is the greatest reward.”
For young athletes dreaming of competing on the national stage, the message is simple: be coachable, work hard, and remember your why.
“We’ve had so many kids who dreamed of wearing this uniform when they were little,” Mesquita said. “Watching them achieve that dream is incredibly special.”
With its unmatched blend of family, faith, focus, and fierce determination, Plant City Cheer continues to prove that championships are built long before the lights come on—one practice, one relationship, and one belief at a time.
2025-2026 Roster
Alayna Glisson, Alexis Garza, Alyssa Felix, Alyssa Lara, Aubrey Waraksa, Avery Palmer, Chaeli Smith, Chloe Smith, Elaina Padron, Jade Beveard, Kayden Smith, Kelsey Tice, Madelina Diaz, Madelynn Hardwick, Mckinleigh Doty, Payton Maraman, Raegan Kasten
Coaches:
Cala Hogan, Karen Snapp, Larkin Baxter, Sara Kate Horvath, Skotti Mesquita
