Over the last couple of years we have covered the Douglas High School cheerleaders in Douglas, WY. We thought it would be fun to ask their Head Cheer Coach Margo Shatto about how this season went and the outlook for this upcoming year. Below are the questions and answers from Margo.
1. How long have you been the cheer coach at Douglas High?
I have been the Douglas High School Cheer Coach for 14 years.
2. This year you went to a national cheer competition, is this something you will want to do every year?
This last year we did go to the National Cheer Competition is Dallas Texas and represented Wyoming very well. I don't fore-see us attending Nationals this year. But, in the future I do see myself preparing another squad to compete in a National competition.
3. What are other goals you set for your team every year?
The goals I set for my team every year is to place at our state competition. If you look on the Wyoming Athletic web site you will see that the Douglas Cheer squad places in the top 3 every year. I also take 3 squads to our state competition and we usually place in the top three in all routines and we are usually the only 3A school that participates in all three routines. That means a lot of practices and dedication from the coaches and athletes.
4. What is a tradition that your team has every year that they do?
Our main tradition happen before we compete. We get together the night before and have a team dinner and get our hair ready for competition. We wear hair pieces that have to be sewn into their hair. On the morning of competition we meet at our practice faculty "The Bearcat Den" and go over our 3 routines then our senior cheerleaders give an inspirational speech to the squad and we load our bus that has been graciously decorated by our booster club. It is also a tradition that our seniors put together our non-stunt routine for state. Its also a tradition that anytime we travel out of town and come upon a Starbucks...we stop.
5. What are tryouts like for the cheer team?
We do not have tryouts for cheer in Douglas. Our philosophy is that anyone can join cheer and we welcome anyone. I like having students involved in extra curricular activities and helping them feel part of a team.
6. What would you tell someone who is on the fence about trying out for cheerleading at the high school level?
If someone is thinking about trying our for cheerleading I we advise them to try it. Talk to the coach, some present and past cheerleaders. Attending practices would be a great idea. Cheerleaders get a not so good reputation sometimes and a lot what is said about cheerleaders is not true. Find it our for yourself.
7. What is a favorite memory you have from being the cheer coach at Douglas High?
I have a lot of memories being the cheer coach for Douglas High School but one of my best is being able to coach my daughter, Kelsey. She then went on to cheer at UW and comes back to Douglas and helps me with my squad. She puts together our music and does the choreograph for our stunt routine. She is now coaching at Torrington and I enjoy sharing experiences with her as a coach.
8. Tell us a little bit about the town of Douglas, WY.
Douglas Wyoming is a small town that loves sports. We don't have a Walmart or a Starbucks. We have 1 High School and our town population is around 6,000. We are going through an oil boom at this time and our small town atmosphere is growing.
9. We actually got to photograph your daughter, Kelsey, when she was a cheerleader at the University of Wyoming. What is one of your favorite memories of Kelsey when she was cheering at Wyoming?
My favorite memory of Kelsey when she was cheering at UW watching her cheer at the football games. She would start cheering on the west side of the football field and would move around the field every quarter and I would move with her. I absolutely loved watching her cheer and being a part of that experience. I also traveled to New Mexico and Las Vegas when the team was in tournaments just to watch her cheer.
Thank you to Margo for your time in answering our questions. We have had a lot of fun covering Douglas High Cheer the last couple of years. We hope to make it out that way this year to take some more photos and cover their team even more!
