Lake Washington Junior Kangs Cheer is a part of Lake Washington Junior Football Association (LWJFA). Our nonprofit organization is 100% driven by volunteers and parents who are passionate about providing a great experience for our boys and girls throughout the area who are interested in cheer and football. We welcome and encourage children of all abilities to join us in cheering and supporting our Junior Kangs Football teams. We strive to develop a solid cheer foundation in skills, technique, teamwork, and good sportsmanship.

All children entering 2nd-8th grades in the fall may participate in Junior Kangs Cheer! Unlike the football program, there is no requirement to reside within the boundaries of Lake Washington High School.

The season commences in early August and extends through mid-November.

Cheer practice schedules are dependent on the squad, but in general, practices last 90 minutes and will be held 2 weekday evenings per week. Summer practices begin August 12th with a potential Jamboree on a weekend day late in August. Practice will be held outdoors at various Kirkland fields in August and September. Indoor practices begin the first week of October and will be held in a school gym.

We cheer for our Junior Kangs Football teams every Saturday, beginning September 7, 2024, at different times throughout the day. Game times may range from as early as 9am to as late as 7pm. Games will take place at various high school fields across the Greater Eastside such as Eastlake, Bothell, Liberty, Bellevue, etc. When possible, we will cheer at home (LWHS) and will perform at halftime! The regular season schedule is usually released about a week before the first football game.

For 2024, we are planning to form 3 squads:

Glitter Squad

• Grades 2-3
• Head Coach: Brittany Kukal
• Assistant Coaches Needed

Sparkle Squad

• Grades 4-5
• Head Coach: Tiffany Heiges
• Assistant Coaches Needed

Dream Squad

• Grades 6-8
• Head Coach: Sim Nguyen
• Assistant Coaches Needed

Your squad will be determined automatically during registration based on grade level. Please note that registration is on a first come, first served basis and squad sizes are capped to ensure a fantastic experience for all our participants.

In the event a squad is full, please select the waitlist option and proceed with registration. You will not be charged, and your interest will help us determine if we are able to form additional squads.

The registration fee will vary depending on whether a new uniform needs to be ordered. The fee for new cheerleaders is $550 and covers registration + uniform. For returning cheerleaders who do not need to order a uniform, the fee is $265.

Cheer registration covers facility rental, insurance, snacks, paid athletic trainers, and safety training for coaches. The uniform fee includes a complete custom-fit cheer uniform with a bow, jacket, bag, and poms that cheerleaders keep at the end of the season. Participants on a scholarship must return uniforms at the end of the season to make the program more sustainable and keep costs as low as possible.

Two payment options are available:

1. Payment in full
2. $150 due at the time of registration with the remainder split into 2 equal payments due July 1st and August 1st.

We are able to provide a limited number of scholarships to families in need. If you need financial assistance, please fill out our Scholarship Application.

LWJFA operates as a 100% volunteer-driven nonprofit organization. Volunteers at both the club and squad levels play a crucial role in ensuring smooth operations and creating fantastic experiences for the kids participating in cheerleading and football.  Each family is expected to contribute a minimum of 2 hours of volunteer time during the season. Cheer volunteer positions include but are not limited to:

• Head Coach
• Assistant Coach (including high school cheerleaders)
• Stunt Coordinator
• Squad Parent/Coordinator
• Videographer
• Photographer
• Snack Coordinator

Many volunteers will be needed to help run this new program. For coaches, a background in cheer, dance, or gymnastics is desirable. Please also note that we are always looking for help on the Board and support with our operations!

Please visit the Volunteer page for more information about roles.

Absolutely, we would love it! We function as a Washington nonprofit corporation with tax-exempt status under IRS section 501(c)(3). Contributions made to us are tax-deductible, and our nonprofit tax ID is 81-1777024.

The funds we receive through donations are allocated toward a variety of things to ensure that registration costs remain as affordable as possible. This includes purchasing equipment, providing scholarships, and many other things to maintain smooth operation of our programs. You can contribute during registration or reach out to us at [email protected] to donate.

Please note that numerous employers provide Corporate Matching Gift programs to support local nonprofit organizations such as ours. In some cases, these grants can double or even triple the original donation made by the employee.

For further inquiries, feel free to contact Sim Nguyen, Director of Cheer at [email protected].