Cheer 2: What Mackenzie, Austin, and Ashlee Are Up To Now

After a two-year hiatus, the long-awaited premiere of Cheer season 2 dropped on Netflix this past Wednesday, but without a few champs from season 1. Since Navarro College is a junior college, which only offers associate degree programs, most students attending the collegiate institution complete their coursework within two years. This sadly meant that the 2019 season would be the last time several Bulldogs would wear the red and black uniforms. Audiences were disappointed to learn that they would no longer be seeing Mackenzie “Sherbs” Sherburn, Austin Bayles, or Ashlee Sewai.

The Navarro Bulldogs spent season 1 training for the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer & Dance Championship, which is held annually in Daytona Beach, Florida. The NCA (National Cheerleaders Association) follows slightly different eligibility rules than the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). Navarro cheer coach Monica Aldama has said that cheerleaders are only eligible for five years and that three of those years can be at a junior college. However, even with the additional year of eligibility at the community college level, time was up for these fan favorites.

Mackenzie “Sherbs” Sherburn

Poor “Sherbs” lost her spot on “mat” after she dislocated her elbow during practice, as her injury rendered her unable to compete in Daytona. Fortunately, she made a full recovery and was able to return to cheerleading the next season, in a new uniform. In 2019, she began her new cheer career at Texas Tech University, where she majored in psychology. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in August of 2021. Sherbs plans to get her master’s degree in sports psychology. Fans can follow the fitness guru Mackenize Sherbs on her Instagram, @mackenziesherburn.

Austin Bayles

Who can forget the gut-wrenching ankle injury Austin sustained mid-performance during the Daytona championship? Viewers cried right along with him as he watched his team retake the mat and finish their 14th title-winning routine from the sidelines. Thankfully, his ankle has healed and he was able to continue with his cheer career. Austin graduated from Navarro in 2019 and is now in his senior year, cheering at Texas Tech University. He and “Sherbs” competed together for Texas Texas in Daytona in 2020. Fans can follow him on Instagram at @austin_bayles.

Ashlee Sawai

Originally from Kaui, Hawaii, Ashlee was one of the original flyers to “make mat” during Cheer season 1. She exhibited signs of a concussion after knocking heads with another teammate while practicing the pyramid, so she was unable to continue playing her role in doing the difficult stunt. However, she remained an important member of the team throughout the season, and audiences were disappointed to learn that she had graduated from Navarro in 2019. Since then, Ashlee has been dating fellow Bulldog cheerleader, Sydney Andalio. The pair moved to New Zealand at the beginning of 2020 and returned that December. Ashlee isn’t very active on social media, but according to Sydney’s Syd_andalio Facebook profile, the couple currently lives in the reality TV hot spot, Las Vegas. Fans can follow Ashlee on Instagram at @ashleesawai.

Even though Cheer devotees will be missing these alumni, plenty of beloved castmates did return for the sophomore season. Gabi Butler, Morgan Simianer, La’Darius Marshall, Lexi Brumback, and of course Coach Monica Aldama are all back for the newest installment. With nine episodes, rather than the mere six from the show’s freshman season, audiences have plenty of time to spend with their favorite cheer squad.

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