Cheer team rallies around new alumni coaches

Introduction

This year Waukee has brought 2 new coaches to the cheer team. Megan Sanders and Mara Mapes West. They are both alumni cheerleaders from Waukee. They have added lots of fun and old traditions back into the program! Although they became coaches at the last second, they’ve been trying hard to get the team together. Cheerleading is a very building sport as the program has also gotten new black uniforms. Here are some updates!

Meet Megan

Megan is the main varsity coach and is a photographer who always takes great pictures of cheerleaders on the sideline! Megan is also a fourth-grade teacher at Woodland Hills, she says, “I have really enjoyed coaching! It’s been refreshing to be able to pour into people in a different way than being a fourth-grade teacher. The last time I coached, I was in high school. I missed it quite a bit and it feels great to be back in a passion I’ve had my whole life”. Megan has been such a positive and great addition to the team! She wanted to become the coach because, “When I was in high school, I was a member of the Waukee competition cheerleading squad for four years. I absolutely loved my time at Waukee High School and knew that maybe one day I would want to come to coach while teaching in the district. This year, with the assistant coaching position being open as well, it was a good time to pursue the opportunity as I knew I would have someone with similar values. Our assistant coach, Mara Mapes West, and I became friends while cheering together at WHS, so I knew I would have a committed and passionate person to coach with!” As Megan + Mara knew each other from before their teamwork as coaches has been excellent and cheerleaders say it’s great to hear about their old stories at practice.

Meet Mara

Mara is the assistant coach and helps out with JV. Mara said, “I have LOVED being a new coach. It’s something I knew I would like but I’m enjoying it so much more than I could have imagined!” Outside of coaching, Mara spends her time with her baby Joie who is 9 months old! She is also a photographer and enjoys going to Iowa State tailgates! She is a previous Waukee cheerleader and says she wanted to coach because “I was a Waukee cheerleader in high school so when I heard it was open I was like this would be so fun. It was a big part of my life for 6+ years”. The cheerleading program has gained 2 awesome new coaches and it’s been a great time! 

Senior Spotlight

Elle Secory is a senior cheerleader who has been on the team all 4 years of high school. Elle says she continues to cheer because “It’s such a big part of my life and I can’t imagine not going to cheer practice. I have been a football cheerleader my whole high school life because it’s genuinely so much fun and I love my friends”. Cheerleading is a big returning sport where most athletes continue to come back each year. Although the team has lots of changes this year, most of the athletes know how it works and cheer just the same as every year. Elle also adds her favorite part about being a cheerleader is, “I love seeing my friends at games and practices, as well as my stunt group”. Being a cheerleader can be hard, but this senior explained how it all becomes worth it in the end!