GALT, CA (MPG) - The Liberty Ranch Hawks competition cheer team has made history. Under the direction of head coach and Liberty Ranch alumna Kylie Valencia, the Hawks captured the program’s first-ever CIF Traditional Competitive Cheer Section title at the CIF TCC Winter Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 24, capping an incredible season that saw the program return to competition for the first time since winning Nationals in 2019.

The championship was the culmination of a season that built steadily from one competition to the next. The Hawks opened their campaign on Nov. 1 at the NCA-UCA Northern California Regional in the Large Varsity Non-Tumbling division, earning an impressive third-place finish in their first regional competition. Just one week later, they returned to the floor at the USA Northern California Regional on Nov. 8 and improved their standing with a second-place finish. The momentum they carried into January proved unstoppable, as the Hawks delivered their best performance of the season when it mattered most, claiming the section title and etching their names into Liberty Ranch history.

The victory carried special significance given the program’s six-year absence from competition. To return from that hiatus, compete at the regional level and ultimately capture a section championship in the same season is a remarkable achievement that speaks to the talent, dedication and coaching excellence within this program.

Coach Valencia, herself a Liberty Ranch graduate, expressed deep pride in what her team accomplished.

 

Bailey Babcock, Bailey Burkett, Carlie Morgado, Mikina McCreery and Sofia Richardson are the seniors that competed.

“We had an amazing group of girls who deserved the opportunity to compete and bring home a win for both the school and themselves,” Valencia said. “Our five seniors – Bailey Babcock, Bailey Burkett, Carlie Morgado, Mikina McCreery and Sofia Richardson – have worked incredibly hard over the past four years. Everyone on the team, including myself, wanted to see them finish their final season with a well-deserved win.”

Valencia reserved special praise for her two captains, Babcock and McCreery, whose leadership was instrumental in the team’s success.

“This accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our two captains, Bailey Babcock and Mikina McCreery,” Valencia said. “They played a crucial role in assisting me in developing routine sequences, counts and formation changes. They consistently went above and beyond, arriving early, staying late and even collaborating outside of practice to help elevate the team. I’m incredibly grateful for their leadership.”

The five seniors – Babcock, Burkett, Morgado, McCreery, and Richardson – provided the veteran presence and emotional drive that guided the team throughout the season. For each of them, the section title represents the perfect ending to four years of dedication to the Liberty Ranch cheer program.

The entire roster that made history this season includes Abigail Johnson, Alana Gonzalez, Alany Collins, Alexis Gonzales, Bailey Babcock, Bailey Burkett, Brooklynn Woods, Calleigh Farnsworth, Carlie Morgado, Brenna Frank, Jensen Perez, Joeylee Whitford, Josalynn Gibson, Khali Barrantes, Madelyn Mutulo, Mikina McCreery, Riley Snider, Rylee Morrow, Sofia Richardson and Kiara Borrego. Each athlete contributed to a performance worthy of the program’s first section championship, and their collective effort reflects the culture of excellence that Valencia and cheer coordinator Roxanne Babcock have worked tirelessly to build.

For Valencia, coaching her alma mater’s cheer program to a historic championship is a full-circle moment that she won’t soon forget.

 

The Hawks are in formation during their competition on routine.

“The girls on this team will always hold a special place in my heart,” Valencia said. “I’m already looking forward to the 2026-27 cheer season and the opportunity to compete again.”

The Hawks’ section title adds another championship banner to what has been one of the most decorated years in Liberty Ranch athletics history. From soccer to basketball to wrestling and now competition cheer, the Hawks have consistently represented their school and community with excellence, heart and determination.

For the Liberty Ranch cheer program, this is not just a championship, it’s a statement of intent. Coach Valencia, coordinator Roxanne Babcock and a talented roster of athletes have reestablished the program as a competitive force, and with the hunger already building for next season, the Hawks’ cheer team appears poised to compete for titles for years to come.

History has been made. The Liberty Ranch Hawks are section champions.