The cheerleading squad trained without an official coach during fall 2019. The Harding cheerleading squad played a vital role in Harding athletics. They were a cornerstone for sporting events, providing backup and school spirit. For over two semesters, however, the cheerleading squad was without an official coach and only had Kellee Blickenstaff as a sponsor. Senior Anna-Grace Shields, a co-captain for the cheerleading squad, said certain circumstances and budget issues left the squad without a coach beginning in spring 2019. Blickenstaff acted as the squad's coach while they searched for a full-time candidate. Shields said having a coach would have been beneficial, but Blickenstaff took care of the squad's needs. "Mrs. Kellee does anything and everything that we need," Shields said. "The purpose of a coach is to make sure you do things safely and correctly, ... and Mrs. Kellee fills that role completely for us." Shields said Blickenstaff was very involved with the squad to ensure all routines were ready for performance. "She's very hands on," Shields said. "She's very present, and she spends a lot of time and a lot of effort making sure we look [how] we need to look. Everything that we do has her hand on it; it just might not be apparent to people who aren't really paying attention." 234 Freshman Riley Shepard, a member of the cheerleading squad, said she enjoyed her time on the squad. She appreciated the composition of the squad during the 2019-20 season and expressed her appreciation for Blickenstaff. "She is the campus connection," Shepard said. "And it's easy for people to overlook." While Blickenstaff sponsored the squad, the three co-captains -- junior Jasie Mason, junior Rachel Frost and Shields -- also had hands in making the team the best it could be. "I also think there's kind of a benefit to us being more athlete-led as far as the stunts go because when we see it and like it, we try it," Shields said. "So, it's things that we're excited about that we actually want to perform and we want to do." Sophomore Hadley McDaniel, a member of the cheerleading squad, voiced similar opinions. She said it was better to focus on what they had and to appreciate their teamwork. "It's been a good experience; it's not negative or anything," McDaniel said. "We just roll with what we have." story by Abigail Rezentes
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