Cheer squad looks to rebuild

Lots of sports teams go through rebuilding years in attempt to make the team the best it can be, and it is no different for the Washburn Cheer Squad.

When a team gets a new coach, lots of everyday, normal routines are changed. And many times this leads to the rebuilding. Carly DeDonder is her second year of coaching the cheerleaders here at Washburn and believes the team is headed in the right direction. She knows that to be at the top, you have to start from the ground.

“We are in the rebuilding process right now. When I came in a lot of things changed and we had to start with a whole new team, but we are definitely improving,” said DeDonder.

They are improving both in skill and in numbers. The team has three returning members of the squad and they are the leaders of the small team that only consists of eight girls. But with the three returnees, DeDonder hopes it will start the trend of more girls staying year after year.

One of the ultimate goals is to recruit a big enough team that will be able to compete in cheer competitions. Usually a team that is in a competition has 20 members or more, both men and women. Although the Washburn squad doesn’t have any men on their team, DeDonder said they could contribute a lot.

“With guys on the team, there is the option for a lot more stunts and higher level stunts. We even have the uniforms and everything for guys,” said DeDonder.

Many Division I schools and some Division II schools have height and weight requirements for their cheerleaders, but that is not the case as Washburn. Anyone can tryout for the team at Washburn as there is a tryout held each semester. They have to be able to perform stunts and are tested on routines and chants, as requirements.

DeDonder considers all of her girls’ athletes and makes sure they know that. “What they do is physically demanding and there has to be some athletic ability. When we begin our season and have training, the girls are sore all week from working out,” said DeDonder.