261 Let’s Go Bisons LET’S GO The Bison cheerleaders cheer the football team to a National Championship. Harding University was not only able to celebrate its 100th year in the 2023-2024 school year, but it was also the first year ever that the Bison football team played, and won, in the D-2 National Championship game. For the cheer team, this meant close to equal excitement and anticipation. The team travelled and arrived sporadically at the Airbnb they rented on Friday, December 15. The cheer team and Harding’s band along with the opposing school’s teams attended somewhat of a pep rally at a brewery in downtown Dallas that evening. Even though the crowd was mainly Colorado School of Mines fans, the cheer team still had a great time. “It was one of the most fun experiences I have ever had,” Senior Kadyn Harris, co-captain of the cheer team, said. After the rally, the team and whatever Harding people could make it went to the local Hilton Hotel for a graduation ceremony of the December football graduates. The morning of the big game, the cheer team got up early and the captains cooked an elaborate breakfast for the rest of the girls. They arrived at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas on the morning of Saturday, December 16. The girls attended and performed at the tailgate outside of the stadium. “[The tailgate performance] was super sweet for us because it was our last tailgate and almost all of the alumni and parents were able to be there,” Harris said. Harding’s cheer coach of over 20 years, Kelle Blickenstaff, described the weekend as “all one huge memorable moment.” Blickenstaff shared how meaningful it was for the cheer team to be able to perform in front of many of their family and friends that they never would have been able to, along with hundreds of alumni. “It was like a homecoming game like no other homecoming anyone has ever had,” Blickenstaff said. “I don’t think they missed a stunt. Their energy was great and they performed very well. We’re very proud of them. I have been really proud of the cheerleaders this year. They really came together as a team, they work together so well. They’re all kind, encouraging, Christian ladies.” This game was unlike any other for everyone, but notably for the cheer team. The game was aired on ESPN2, meaning they wouldn’t know where a camera would be located or angled from. They had to be at their sharpest performance, smile all of the time, not mess around with each other and stay at high energy throughout the entire game. “We were aware that there were going to be more cameras on us than normal and that was definitely going to be an adjustment,” Senior Emma Brantley co-captain of the cheer team said, “It really helped us stay energized because it was a really tiring day.” Both captains were elated by the crowd participation. Neither had seen a crowd interact with their cheers and chants like they did at that game. The day was extra bittersweet for the seniors on the cheer team because not only were they leading the cheers for the biggest game Harding had ever played at, but it was their last game to cheer. “It is crazy because not only is it the 100th year of Harding, the team is playing at the National Championships, but also we were the COVID-19 class,” Harris said. “We had to go from nothing to getting to do all these things that nobody has ever gotten to participate in before. It has been a really cool full circle. This has by far been the best experience I have ever had.” Written by Randi Tubbs Cheer on the Bisons | The Harding cheer team pose with Buff the Bison during the football National Championship on Dec. 16. The team cheered the Bisons to their victory over Colorado School of Mines, 38-7. Photo courtesy of Alaina Abbott
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==