Cheer Team Doubles in Size Under New Coach
by Mary Wheeler
The Concordia cheerleading squad doubled in size and changed coaches this season.
The roster doubled from last season to 15 members, eight of whom are freshmen. As a larger group, the team will be able to perform more involved cheers during competitions and events such as the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).
“Campus can expect to see the cheerleaders leading a lot more cheers during sporting events, as well as interacting with the crowd,” junior cheerleading co-captain Katherine Vogel said. “We have a new coach this year, and our focus is really on increasing interaction with the crowd and pumping everyone up for a great game.”
Heather Duff, who began her first season as Bulldog cheer coach in August, has six years of competitive level coaching experience, most recently in the Milford public school district. She also is the new athletic business coordinator for the Concordia athletic department and owns Corner Star Dance Studio in Milford.
“We are a new team with defined goals in the competitive arena and in the classroom,” Duff said. “Now that we are recognized as a sport on campus, and we have emerging sport status with the NAIA, we would like to be treated as any other program within our athletic department.”
The team is getting ready to pump up the crowd to cheer on the Bulldogs.
“We plan to create more appealing routines and to entertain the audiences more,” freshman Kennedy Garner said. “With more people [on the squad], we can create cool ripples and illusions that will awe.”
Like any other athletic team on campus, the cheer team appreciates the campus and community support.
“Although we’re limited on certain things, like inability to stunt based on school and state regulations, we are working very hard in practice in order to make every game more exciting for [the fans], and we so appreciate all of their support, as well as all the support we get from other athletic teams on campus,” Vogel said.
The squad hosts “Fan of the Game” at football games and a cheerleading clinic for elementary school students, in addition to cheering at all home football, men’s and women’s basketball games, wrestling duals and some away events.
The cheer team will perform next at the home football game against Doane College at 1 p.m. on Oct. 24 .
