Ready to shine in the spotlight

One of the backs, Jenifer Salinas, sustained a fractured wrist during practice on Feb. 3, and head coach Kelsey Sugg canceled the team’s competition last weekend at Tualatin High School.

Sugg prepared as though alternates Aileen Luna-Lopez and Bryonna Otzoy would fill in the spot vacated by Salinas ahead of state.

Wednesday night, just a week later, the team received its inspirational boost – Salinas was cleared medically and will regain her role as main back ahead of Saturday’s OSAA 5A State Cheerleading Championships at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

“Luckily, Jen got cleared today, but I was extremely proud of my alternates for stepping up to the plate and filling in while she was out,” Sugg said. “Jen has worked so hard and it was devastating to see her get hurt so close to state, but she is tough and the doctors were shocked how quickly she healed.”

The Dalles is among 10 teams in the 5A class, vying to dethrone defending champion, Springfield.

While Springfield is the reigning title holder, Sugg said South Albany is one of TD’s biggest competitors at state due to their strong stunters.

In addition to South Albany, Springfield and The Dalles, Liberty, Churchill, Lebanon, Milwaukie, North Eugene, Parkrose and Summit represent tough competition in the 5A ranks.

“Some of the teams we haven’t even ever seen before, so you never know what can happen at state,” Sugg added. “Liberty, Lebanon and Churchill also have clean routines.”

The team has been working with choreographer Tara Mahoney, Sugg and assistant coach Andrea Pena on devising effective routines, so the injury and the subsequent Tualatin cancellation may have been a blessing in disguise.

Sugg said that it allowed the team more practice time and also some moments to refocus and reorganize before hitting the biggest stage.

It is still The Dalles’ first cheer season in more than a decade, so with a pair of second-place finishes and, the steady progress from last summer until now, TD’s first-year coach has been impressed.

“At the beginning of this year, they could hardly get anyone in the air and, from the first day of practice to today, they have blown me away,” Sugg said. “No matter what happens on Saturday, I want them to give it their all and for everyone to feel good about what they put on the mat and show off.”

The Dalles hits the mat at 2 p.m. and starts with its opening stunt and standing tumbling, then move into the opening stunt portion.

From there, the team performs their cheer, which includes jumps and running tumbling and then they move into the pyramid section.

The grand finale is the dance routine.

“Knowing it will be a long day makes it nerve-racking, but reminding myself of all the work these girls put in makes it rewarding, as this year comes to a close Saturday,” Coach Pena said. “More than anything, we are ready to take the mat and show off all of our hard work.”

TD senior Alyssa Donnell expressed pride in her team for its ability to face the many challenges through the season, whether physical or in the throes of practices or competition.

“We literally went from barely even thinking we could do a lib and now look at this,” Donnell said. “We are back and so ready to give it our all out on that floor on Saturday. I am unbelievably grateful I got to spend my senior year with this amazing group of gals. Tears, sweat, sicknesses, bruises, frustration, and everything else in between and we have made it through it all.”

As the cheer members have made adjustments from years of dance to cheer this season, coach Sugg has dealt with some challenges in her first season since taking over for Kristi Maley.

Over the course of more than three decades, Maley and her mother Leslie have developed a legacy of success in The Dalles with multiple state championships.

They are big shoes to fill, but Sugg is leaving no stone unturned in an effort to carry on the torch.

“I hope and strive to be as good of a coach as Kristi and Leslie were to me,” Sugg said. “It is only my first year, but I feel like I have learned a lot from it and it has made me a better and stronger coach for next year.”

The future is bright for The Dalles, which loses three seniors on the roster.

Sugg has cheer participants waiting in the wings from elementary school, middle school and in high school ready to build on the 2016 campaign.

Bringing a new message and philosophy is not an easy task, but with the help of Mahoney, Pena and seniors Donnell (base), Taylor Sugg (flyer) and Lillia Chance (base), they have helped breed confidence, while bringing leadership, encouragement and stability to the forefront.

“I think the team really admires Alyssa Donnell, especially since she had never been a part of cheer. This year, she moved back to The Dalles to participate in her senior year and has really stepped up to the plate and worked hard for this team,” coach Sugg said. “Lillia and Taylor are both really inspiring team captains and I am going to sincerely miss these girls next year.”