BHS Red Raiders Cheerleading Captains Let to Right: Tanaya Taylor, Katelynn Tivey, and Emmé Capra (Photo Credit: Gail Tivey)

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Head Varsity Cheerleading Coach Rachel McDougall announced recently that Seniors Emmé Capra and Katelynn Tivey, along with Junior Tanaya Taylor, are named 2017 Barnstable High School Red Raider Varsity Cheerleading Team Captains. Together in cheerleading since childhood, Emmé, Katelynn, and Tanaya were overwhelmingly selected by their coaches and peers to lead this year’s cheerleading squad based on their outstanding leadership, technical skills, school spirit, and academic scholarship.

Let’s now introduce our Red Raider Cheerleading Team Captains!

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Captain Emmé Capra (Photo Credit: Gail Tivey)

Captain Emmé Capra has been a cheerleader since she was born. Being around her older brothers sports teams and her mom being a cheer coach, she couldn’t help but love the sport. When  Emmé was 4, she began on a team at 3CA, Cape Cod Cheer Academy.  Fast forward 14 years and she is a coach for 3 teams and is a member on the Sr. 3 Co-ed team. She was a member of the Barnstable High school Varsity cheer team in her 8th grade, year but did not go back again until her Senior year.

On the sidelines is where most people see captain Emmé Capra. As you see, her second passion is photography. When she was 12, she received her first “real” camera. From that point on, it has been a whirl wind of a path that she knows she wants to go in life. In the fall of 2018, she will be attending the New England School of Photography.

Captain Emmé Capra has a lot of support around her from, not only her friends….5 of whom cheers both on the sidelines of BHS and 3CA, but most of all her family. Older brother Josh cheered all 4 years at BHS and is always her inspiration to strive for more. Oldest brother David resides in upstate New York. Barnstable High graduate Ben attends college at UMASS Amherst studying Bio Chemistry. Younger Brother Liam is currently on the Varsity football team. Add a younger sister, age 4 who “Emmé Caprais her idol” and another 4-year-old boy who thinks she’s pretty cool, and you have an army of Emmé supporters!

“Creative, artistic and original” are words that describe Emmé. She has never looked at something the same as another person would. Her photography screams her personality. The best thing about her now is her hunger to learn more, pushing herself to go outside her comfort-zone.

Parents Dawn Capra, Bill Capra and step mom Connie Capra, grandparents on both sides, and LOTS of aunts and uncles know Emme will be amazing at what ever life will bring and her photos will live on forever. (Editor’s Note: This article was lovingly composed by Dawn Capra.)

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Captain Tanaya Taylor (Emmé Capra Photography)

Due to her outstanding commitment, cheerleading skills, school spirit, and demonstrated leadership, Captain Tanaya Taylor earned the highly unique and impressive honor of being selected cheerleading team captain as a junior.

Truly dedicated to the sport, Captain Tanaya Taylor began her passion for cheerleading in the second grade with the Barnstable Silver Bullets. She has committed her talents and energy to cheerleading as both an athlete and coach ever since. Head coach of the 2016 Silver Bullets Pee Wee Cheerleading Squad and previously Junior Silver Bullets Cheerleading Coach since ninth grade, Tanaya gives freely of her time combining her leadership, teaching, talent, positive mentoring and love for children by contributing countless hours of hard work and community service. In fact, Tanaya is the first teenager in the history of the Barnstable Silver Bullets to lead coach a cheerleading team.

As evidenced by weathering through the entire 2016 season with a torn ACL, there is no challenge that holds back Captain Tanaya Taylor. Beyond cheerleading for the Barnstable High School Red Raiders and her coaching commitments, Tanaya is also a three-year tenured Cape Cod Cheer Academy 3CA competitive cheerleader.

Tanaya’s older brother is BHS Class of 2017 alumni and former Red Raiders football and basketball stand-out Tahir Taylor. Tahir currently attends Virginia State University where he plays football for the Trojans. Tanaya’s proud parents are Hope and Alik Taylor of Hyannis.

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Captain Katelynn Tivey (Emmé Capra Photography)

Captain Katelynn Tivey caught the “cheerleading fever” early by watching her older brother play football with the Barnstable Silver Bullets. Cheering since the third grade, “Tiv”, has crafted her remarkable strength and athletic ability through her demonstrated exhaustive work ethic, leadership skills, and tenacity. Tiv’s enthusiasm and support for fellow cheerleaders and football team players, along with her commitment to excellence, are legendary. Red Raider School Spirit can be defined in three simple words, Captain Katelynn Tivey.

Consistently an Honor Roll student, Katelynn is a busy young woman! Not only is she a 5-year varsity cheerleader for the Red Raiders, she also cheers competitively for Cape Cod Cheer Academy 3CA. Tenured nine years with 3CA, she has traveled extensively cheering for appreciative audiences all over the East Coast. Tiv also squeezes in employment as a cashier at Shaw’s. Committed to helping others, Tiv plans a career in nursing.

Captain Katelynn Tivey has two older siblings, BHS alumni Savannah (2014) and Zachary (2016). Her proud parents are Ron and Gail Tivey of Hyannis.

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