Cheerleading Coaching Staff bids farewell

CHS Cheer has had major successes during the past decade. 

Head Cheerleading coach Val Baker and her long-time assistant coach Krissie Baker recently announced their retirements from coaching the CHS Cheer Squad.  The pair, who are also sisters, have been at the helm of the CHS Cheer program for the past nine years, guiding the team in both the fall and winter seasons.

During those 18 seasons, the pair led the team through many successes including qualifying for States nearly every season, Fall 2013 South Regional Co-ed Champs, Winter 2014 South Regional Champs and the major honor of qualifying and competing in Nationals in Orlando, Florida during the 2014 winter season where they finished 5th in the nation.

Coach Val Baker had this to say on her retirement-

"Coaching Canton High School cheerleading for the past nine years has been an honor and an amazing experience.  I've been very fortunate to go from an alumni to a mentor.  Watching athletes grow from freshmen to seniors has been beyond rewarding, and I will miss it tremendously."

Both Bakers have impressive cheer resumes of their own:

Assistant Coach Krissie Baker with
captain Fiona Gilmore

Val Baker-

• Four year CHS cheerleader and senior captain
• Earned UCA All-American honors her senior year
• Cheered at Assumption College where she competed a the National is Daytona Florida
• Cheered for All-Star team East Celebrity Elite where she qualified for the Cheerleading Worlds

Krissie Baker-

• Canton High Varsity cheer for 4 year and senior captain
• Earned UCA All-American honors her senior year
• Cheered at Curry College

Also leaving the program after many years involved are two amazing coaches who have volunteered so much of their time during the Cheer program's Baker years- Kelsey Cummings and Hannah Dickie. Cummings and Dickie are both former CHS Cheerleaders.  Cummings started volunteer coaching for the Bulldogs in 2012 and Dickie in 2015. Both have made a great impact in the lives of many.

Canton High School is lucky to have had such dedicated, talented coaches for our cheer program over the past decade. Best of luck to all of them in the next chapters of their lives.