With the upcoming football kickoff drawing near, Marshall cheerleading coach Donna Dunn is setting high standards for her squad.
The cheerleaders began practice in April and continued workouts on weekends during the summer in preparation for the upcoming gridiron schedule. Also, the squad participated in an NCAA cheering camp this summer in Louisville, Ky., and won several team and individual awards.
Dunn said the team's success reflects the hard work put into the program.
"This squad thinks, breathes and eats cheerleading," she said. "They are so far ahead of last year's squad."
The team was named the most spirited squad at the camp.
Cheerleaders Chris Furman and Ellie Yokochi received All-American recognition. Furman also won the top gun stunting competition with his partner Chelsea Cavender. Marshall mascot Marco was dubbed best all-around mascot and most-spirited mascot.
For the first time since the Herd's GMAC Bowl victory this past season, the award-winning cheerleading squad will lead the Herd onto the field this Saturday.
On game day, the squad will arrive at the football stadium more than two hours before kickoff and meet with tailgaters.
Miranda D. Elkins, a criminal justice senior from Naoma, said the games provide an opportunity to meet and interact with the community. "It's an awesome feeling to see little girls cheering like you," she said.
Eric S. Gibson, a computer and information technology senior from Chesapeake, Ohio, said each football game allows the squad to practice and progress.
"Anyone can shoot a basketball or throw a baseball, but not just any guy can throw a girl into the air and have her do a back flip onto your hands," he said.
Before kickoff, the cheerleaders practice stunts and build a human pyramid in which they make a full 360-degree turn with Marco on top. The squad then leads the football team onto the field and prepares the crowd for the game.
Following a Marshall score, the cheerleaders take to the stands to execute thunder presses.
Gibson said thunder presses are crowd favorites.
"The presses really aren't that difficult compared to other stunts, but the crowd really likes it, so we definitely won't quit."
Coach Dunn said the team is nervous, but prepared. Saturday, "they'll get to getting it," she said.
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