CHELSEA – Chelsea Middle School’s cheerleaders are headed to Nationals for the first time.

The cheerleaders were recognized at the Chelsea City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 18, for recently competing at the Southern Cheerleading Championship at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex against nine other schools.

The Hornets cheer team finished third at the competition on Dec. 8, which qualified them for Nationals.

The Council and attendees at the meeting watched a video of the team’s performance at the Southern Cheerleading Championship and then heard from coach Racheal Trice.

“This is a huge thing not just for our girls and our school but our cheer program and our community as well,” Trice said.

The cheerleaders are looking for sponsorships to cover expenses related to the trip to Nationals in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 8, 2019, and will also benefit from a Spirit Night at the Chelsea McDonald’s on Jan. 4, 2019.

The team includes: Shelby Adams, Katie Andrews, Kathryn Bryars, Cassie Clemons, Alyssa Fritz, Madilynn Gilliam, Addie Griffin, Avery Harris, Kristen Kuykendall, Molly McLemore, Chloe Nelson, Alyssa Parker, Lauren Quinn, Anna Rhoads, Ashleigh Simmons, Ava Willett, Vivian Barrett, Lily Digiovanna, Jaela Ellis, Madeline Epperson, Mikayla Freer, Emily Hamm, Cameron Roberts, Emily Caroline Sisco, Ainsley Steele and Isabelle Willis.

In other business, the Council:

• Heard that the Shelby County Chamber held a ribbon cutting on Dec. 18 at Therachem Research Medilab LLC, which is located off Chesser Crane Road in Chelsea. The business is expected to officially open in early 2019, and could eventually build a manufacturing facility in the city, officials said.
• Approved the annexations of 14.59 acres of land owned by Laurence Weygand and 1 acre of land owned by Richard Giangrosso off Shelby County 280.
• Announced that Chelsea will offer Christmas tree recycling from Dec. 27 through Jan. 4, 2019. Also, bulk trash will be collected in the city on Jan. 19, 2019.
• Announced that the Council meetings next month will be held at 6 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2019, and Jan. 22, 2019. Pre-council meetings in 2019 will begin at 5 p.m.