Ironmen Athletics Media Day

Cherryville Ironmen Media Day: Cheer and Football

Posted Thursday, August 20, 2026 3:58 pm

By: Wise News Network Staff

Cherryville, NC (WNN) - With the Cherryville Ironmen kicking off their first high school football game of the 2026-2027 season on Thursday, August 20, at 7:00 PM, WNN presents to you the Cherryville Ironmen Athletics Media Day coverage of both the Ironmen cheer and football teams. Media Day was conducted on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, prior to the start of the fall sports season.

Football Players Expect A Strong Season

The Cherryville Ironmen Football Team - Cherryville High School vs Thomas Jefferson vs Fred T Foard Scrimmage - Rudisill Stadium - August 7, 2026

Mason Beam (WNN)

One challenge the players feel they may face is staying together as a team with their numbers bolstered to 42 this season. They plan on making sure that bad plays don’t affect them and that they do not become demotivated during the game. Many of the team’s strongest players will still be playing all quarters on both offense and defense. However, the team not only has new players to fill positions but will also see the return of players who were injured last year. This should help fill out the offensive line and help them have an even stronger showing this year.

Over the summer, the team has put in plenty of effort. The newly renovated weight room at the high school is helping the team put on muscle and weight. It included new weights, wooden floor upgrades, and re-powder-coated weights. This, combined with Coach Bowman filling out more plays, makes the team feel ready for the start of this season. They hope to take on the bigger teams like Stewart Cramer, Shelby, and Burns with the results of their training.

They believe it is important to have trust in the new players to fill their roles. These players need to feel they can make the playoffs for them to perform at full capacity. The more tenured players have taken the responsibility of showing them what they can achieve.

Landry Pruitt - Cherryville Ironmen Athletics Football Team - Cherryville Ironmen Media Day - Nixon Gym Former Weight Room - Cherryville, NC - August 5, 2026

Mason Beam (WNN)

“If they don't believe, then we can't. We can't expect them to go out there and make them play whenever they need to. Plus, that makes us have to play more. That gets us more fatigued. So definitely if they get to believe, if they get believing that we can go win all of our games and go far into the playoffs” - Landry Pruitt, LB & RB

As Pruitt stated, their success hinges on these new players doing well. With this, they believe they can make the playoffs. However, with it being on their home turf, they are also looking forward to opening night. They want to show the fans what they can do in order to get as many people behind them as possible. The morale boost that comes from fans cheering them on is indispensable in keeping them going strong all four quarters.

Coach’s Thoughts

Head Football Coach Patrick Bowman - Cherryville Ironmen Athletics Football Team - Cherryville Ironmen Media Day - Nixon Gym Former Weight Room - Cherryville, NC - August 5, 2026

Mason Beam (WNN)

Head Football Coach Patrick Bowman feels that a successful year would be to build off the previous season. With many players returning to their third year, along with Coach Bowman, he is confident this is possible. There may be some challenges, such as more games being played on artificial turf. Without an artificial field to practice on, Bowman believes the players will do their best to adjust and still perform well. He is also enthusiastic about some of the new players, of whom he has kept an eye during their summer practices. With his players coming out and practicing every day, he thinks they will buy into what they can accomplish.

Scrimmage Gallery

Cherryville High School vs Thomas Jefferson vs Fred T Foard Scrimmage - Rudisill Stadium - August 7, 2026

Lady Ironmen Cheer Team

Preparing for cheerleading involves so much more than chants and pom-poms. The sport requires strength, coordination, and dedication throughout the year.

Cheerleader Bailey Tackett explained that the team practices regularly, continuing to improve their stunts and tumbling with extra help from coaches who push them to be the best that they can be.

Lady Ironmen Cheerleaders Kaydence Ellis (L), Bailey Tackett (M), Eleanor Sermersheim (R) | Cherryville Ironmen Athletics Media Day

Mason Beam (WNN)

When asked how they prepare for game day, cheerleader Kaydence Ellis explained that there is a difference between preparing for football games and preparing for competitions. During games, the team’s focus is on supporting the football team, leading cheers, and keeping the crowd engaged. For competitions, the focus shifts to performing a choreographed routine that highlights the team’s stunts, tumbling, and overall skills.

More Than Just A Flyer

When asked about how the team chooses its flyers (the cheerleaders who are lifted into the air during stunts), cheerleader Eleanor Sermersheim emphasized that it is not about a person's size or weight. She explained that a flyer must have courage.

Cherryville Ironmen Athletics Cheer Team Practice - Cherryville High School - August 7, 2026

(Use the above arrows to scroll through the photo gallery)

However, the flyer isn't the only one doing everything in a stunt. It's the bases and the backspots that help support the flyer.

"It's a team effort for a stunt to hit,"

- Eleanor Sermersheim

Cheer is Definitely A Sport

For junior Bailey Tackett, there is no question that cheerleading is a sport.

Cherryville Ironmen Athletics Cheer Team - Cherryville Ironmen Media Day - Nixon Gym Former Weight Room - Cherryville, NC - August 5, 2026

Mason Beam (WNN)

The team trains year-round and continually works to improve its skills, strengths, and routines. When competing for a championship title, Tackett said the goal is to give it 110 percent and continue the legacy of Cherryville Ironmen Cheer.