Cheerleaders with Stephens County ties join the 2023 Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade

Cale Beckham and Sage Heldermon attend Alex High School and will be in the group of cheerleaders in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this Thursday.

Cale has cheered four years at Pioneer and three at Alex, and Sage has been a cheerleader for four years at Alex.

Their first full day in New York City (Saturday) was a busy one, including a four-hour practice. Day two (Sunday) they had a 3 (1/2) hour practice, attended a Broadway show "& Juliet", returned to the hotel for another four hour rehearsal and then collapsed into bed. While exhausted, they were just as excited.

They received their uniforms before they ever left Oklahoma. It would be hard to miss the cheerleaders in the bright pink and yellow outfits.

Beckham and Heldermon tried out for the All-Star Cheer Team at cheer camp and made the team. This provided them the opportunity to cheer in the parade. But to make that happen, they had to become their own fundraising team. They also created a group on Facebook for their adventure and have been sharing updates, even while arriving in NYC.

Cale is a junior and is also in softball, FCA, powerlifting and TSA. Sage is a senior this year, and in FFA and TSA.

As of Friday, both were still busy shopping and trying to finish packing for their departure Saturday. Cale said she's excited about everything in this adventure to New York. "I've always wanted to go to New York City during this time of the year."

Sage agreed. "I have always loved watching movies about New York City during the holidays and I can't wait to experience it."

Even though Cale is only a junior, she plans to play softball in college and get a degree connected to the medical field. Sage plans to earn a Radiologic Technology degree so she can become an X-Ray technician.

Cale is the daughter of Cody and Drieanna (Nunley) Beckham and she has an 8-year-old brother, Clayton. She said they are with her at all times supporting her from cheer and softball. She is the granddaughter of Pearl Nunley and Hunter Nunley of Central High, and her aunt and uncle are Dusty and Justin Scott of Central High, and also great aunt and uncle Mark and Desi Johnson of Duncan. "I have never attended school in Stephens County, but attend several extracurricular activities involving Central High in supporting them," she said. Cale said while the town community of Alex (not the school) and Stephens County have all been extremely supportive.

Sage is the daughter of Guy Heldermon of Hinton, and Leigh Heldermon of Bray. She has two siblings, Kye, a junior at OSU, and Hays, a freshman at Alex. She is the granddaughter of Bob and the late Lee Ellen Heldermon of Hinton, Emmett and Joyce Harrison of Bray. She has many aunts and uncles who have been supportive of her journey, including Sonny Harrison of Bray, Kaci and Brady Barrett of Hinton.