Although injured and unable to perform with her teammates at state this weekend in Portland, The Dalles cheer senior Lauryn Despain has chosen not to sulk about her missed opportunity. She is using this time to act as a mentor, a teacher and an inspiration to the girls she has been around since Day 1.
The clock is ticking for the start of a new season of hope for The Dalles Cheer team. From 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week, TD head coach Kelsey Sugg and assistant Andrea Pena are conducting three days of tryouts at Kurtz Gym on 1201 Washington St. in The Dalles. “Andrea and I are super excited for a new year and have lots of fun and exciting new things planned for the 2016-2017 school year,” Sugg said. All prospective cheerleaders need to pick up and complete their tryout packets in the main office of The Dalles High School, The Dalles Middle School and St. Mary’s Academy. There will also be a mascot tryout during these days for male or female students wishing to show off school spirit, energy and enthusiasm for football and basketball games next season. No dance or prior cheer experience is needed to participate or join. At tryouts, individuals will be learning a tryout dance, a cheer, and doing some stunting. The first two nights consists of just learning and the final night is performance night where they will get to perform everything they have learned. “We are really hoping the girls are getting excited for a new year, and we are trying our best to get the word spread how fun this program is going to be this year,” Sugg added. Also, anyone who brings a friend to the opening tryout day on Tuesday will be entered in a Dutch Bros gift card. For additional information on the program or tryout dates, email coach Sugg at kelseyesugg@live.com.
Adolescents participate in Healthy and Fit TDMS after school. Kids who might otherwise have gone home after school and plopped down in front of the TV or an iPod are now dancing up a storm at The Dalles Middle School.
