Several members of a cheerleading team in Iowa are going home feeling like winners this week after their Sparkles Cheer squad had the chance to cheer at the Iowa Girls Basketball State Tournament. This year, the Sparkles Cheer squad is made up of 11 cheerleaders from Johnston High School. “It’s absolutely phenomenal as a parent,” said Christina Jackson, a mother of one of the girls on the squad, Jaylyn. “It’s a group of cheerleaders with special needs.”The Sparkles normally cheer at the Johnston girl’s home basketball games and for the football team. This year, however, they were able to cheer at the tournament. Throughout the week, the Sparkles got to show off their talent alongside Johnston’s varsity cheer squad. Akshita Kalimireddy, a Johnston varsity senior cheerleader, says the cheer squads are like a sisterhood.Each member of the Sparkles Cheer squad is paired up with a varsity cheerleader. The varsity cheerleaders perform by their sides, all while making sure they feel comfortable and are having fun.”It’s just amazing to see them come here and have the chance to be with such a big crowd,” Kalimireddy said. “It’s nice to see their confidence.”That confidence extends beyond the sidelines. “Jaylyn has been able to have peers that she eats lunch with every day,” said Jackson. “They know her name and they say ‘hi’ to her.” Jackson says what’s great is it’s helped Jaylyn feel comfortable in crowds and being in front of people. More important, Jackson says her daughter and the rest of the girls on the team feel included.
Several members of a cheerleading team in Iowa are going home feeling like winners this week after their Sparkles Cheer squad had the chance to cheer at the Iowa Girls Basketball State Tournament.
This year, the Sparkles Cheer squad is made up of 11 cheerleaders from Johnston High School.
“It’s absolutely phenomenal as a parent,” said Christina Jackson, a mother of one of the girls on the squad, Jaylyn. “It’s a group of cheerleaders with special needs.”
The Sparkles normally cheer at the Johnston girl’s home basketball games and for the football team.
This year, however, they were able to cheer at the tournament.
Throughout the week, the Sparkles got to show off their talent alongside Johnston’s varsity cheer squad.
Akshita Kalimireddy, a Johnston varsity senior cheerleader, says the cheer squads are like a sisterhood.
Each member of the Sparkles Cheer squad is paired up with a varsity cheerleader. The varsity cheerleaders perform by their sides, all while making sure they feel comfortable and are having fun.
“It’s just amazing to see them come here and have the chance to be with such a big crowd,” Kalimireddy said. “It’s nice to see their confidence.”
That confidence extends beyond the sidelines.
“Jaylyn has been able to have peers that she eats lunch with every day,” said Jackson. “They know her name and they say ‘hi’ to her.”
Jackson says what’s great is it’s helped Jaylyn feel comfortable in crowds and being in front of people.
More important, Jackson says her daughter and the rest of the girls on the team feel included.
