Everyday People: Warrenton mom helps to grow cheerleading

WARRENTON — When Celeste Kenneally moved to the Oregon Coast nine years ago with her husband, Brandon, and three children, she didn’t know what to expect.

With her husband in the U.S. Coast Guard, the plan was for the family to move back to Southern California once he retired. But plans can change.

Celeste Kenneally

Celeste Kenneally is the cheerleading coach at Warrenton Kids Inc.

“We fell in love with the area and made so many connections we decided to stay,” she said.

One of the connections was becoming a board member and cheerleading coach with Warrenton Kids Inc., a youth sports nonprofit.

Kenneally, who was a cheerleader in high school, also helps out Tyleah Patterson, the cheer coach at Warrenton High School, when she can.

“The first two years I had about 20 to 24 kids,” she said. “This past year, it doubled. We had to add a seventh and eighth grade team in addition to our third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade teams.”

Kenneally believes sports are an important part of growing up and finds the emphasis in Warrenton centered around community.

The youth cheerleaders appear in the Fourth of July parade, the Astoria Regatta and Warrenton Family Fun Night. Many people around Warrenton know the girls by their face-painting booths at high school football games. The cheerleaders paint faces as a way to raise money for their program.

Both of Kenneally’s daughters are cheerleaders. She has the opportunity to coach her youngest daughter with Warrenton Kids Inc., and says it’s valuable because Emmy gets to see her as both a coach and a mom. While her oldest daughter, Paige, was cheering for Warrenton High School, Kenneally performed the role of cheer mom.

“I love watching the girls who started with me progress and see how proud of themselves they are,” she said. “Also providing the girls something to take with them in high school and college is valuable.”

Kenneally, who works as the special event coordinator for the Seaside Civic & Convention Center, enjoys the relationships she has been able to build with others on the coast.

“I love running into people around town and having them ask me how my kids are doing,” she said. “It’s a true relationship and connection you don’t find in a bigger city.”