Tigers share their passion for cheer despite pandemic

MITCHELL, S.D. – Covid-19 has certainly presented its share of hardships and challenges to say the least. The same goes for first-year head coach Kasey DeWaard and her assistant Jen Gemar who took over the Tripp-Delmont-Armour cheer team last spring.

 "I knew the position would be something new and different when I was approached about taking over the position in early March," expressed DeWaard. "However, I had no idea the challenges this pandemic would create."

 Like any challenging situation, a touch of creativeness helped the coaching duo pursue and continue their passion of dance and cheer given the situation as iterated by the first-year head coach."Experiencing this Covid-19 crisis has certainly taught myself and each of us how to be creative," commented DeWaard.

 One of these ways was holding a cheer camp exclusively through zoom with the Dakota Wesleyan University cheerleaders during the month of October. And as it turns out, the once dire situation proved beneficial for both the Nighthawk and Tiger cheer squads.

 "The Dakota Wesleyan University cheer camp helped both parties do what they love," mentioned head cheer coach Traci Loecker who started her seventh season earlier this fall. "Obviously, we were unable to hold any camps this summer due to the pandemic. So, when I was approached by Kasey about holding a camp via Zoom, we went to work to make it happen."

 Yet, like so much of 2020, the virtual camp provided uncharted experiences for both DWU and TDA. Cheer camps require much repetition as far as replicating specific moves and dances, something Loecker said the Tigers had to use creativity to solve.

 "The camp required some creativity as far as where to place the camera and how to show certain moves, but it worked out well for both teams," Loecker stated. "We loved doing this camp as it gave us an opportunity to teach new cheers, moves and dances. Hopefully, the camp inspired the TDA cheer team to continue to cheer despite all of the obstacles this year."

 While the opportunity proved beneficial and inspiring for the Nighthawks implementing new moves and cheers into their arsenal, the virtually remote experience also provided the Tigers with much needed financial support. The Dakota Wesleyan cheer team relies predominantly on summer camps for supplementing its fundraising budget for the year, so the pandemic created a real issue canceling all practices and events over the summer.

 The cancelation of summer events and practices also caused havoc for the TDA cheer team according to DeWaard, as Tripp-Delmont-Armour operates as co-op district.

 "It was so strange to just leave everything so abruptly. No summer camps, no open gyms, no tryouts," DeWaard said. "Because we operate as a co-op, the team normally rotates practices between the two towns in which we have girls that attend. Five girls are from Armour and three girls are from Tripp as the team consists of two freshmen, three sophomores and three juniors."

 Despite the disappointment of cancellations and postponements experienced throughout the year, the TDA cheer team expressed a sense of gratitude and excitement about the continuation of more Zoom camps. Thus, even after a second camp session was sidelined until after the new year due to the pandemic.

 "I am definitely excited to do the next camp with DWU cheer as our girls loved this first session," reiterated coaches DeWaard and Gemar. "Until we can get the DWU cheer team in person, this will work."

 If you would like more information on scheduling a Zoom cheer camp with DWU, please contact Coach Loecker at dwucheer@dwu.edu or 605-770-8803.