“They inspired me so much,” Bonn said. “They were so hard-working, and no matter what they always kept a smile on their face. They were always trying to make us laugh.”
Two years ago, Springfield cheerleading coach Joanna Perdue and assistant coach Jamie Easterday decided they wanted to find a creative way for the team to give back to the community. They decided to host a cheer camp for students with disabilities and held the first event last year.
“It touches the cheerleaders a lot more than what people think,” Perdue said. “I think it’s a good experience for them, giving back, helping others — not limiting someone just because they’re different. I think they really enjoy doing these types of things.”
The 13 Wildcats cheerleaders had nine girls participate each of the last two years, Perdue said. The girls ages ranged from five to 19, Perdue said, including students from different school districts, including Clark-Shawnee and Tecumseh.
“We didn’t deny participation to anyone, no matter what their ages were,” said Perdue, who is in her third year as cheerleading coach.
This year, several girls came back after participating in the camp last year.
“It’s amazing being able to see them again,” said Bonn, a junior and the team’s captain.
Even though the campers were of all different ages, Bonn said, they worked extremely well together.
“It showed us how close you can be with people of all ages,” Bonn said. “No matter what challenges you’re faced with, you can always have a smile on your face and have fun with anything you can do.”
The camp is free and is paid for through sponsorship from organizations such as Springfield Rotary and Trophy Sport, Perdue said. She’s hoping to continue the event each year.
“You never know someone’s story,” Perdue said, “and I always preach that to my (four children), and I want to hold that true to my cheerleaders.”
New Carlisle resident Emma Leigh Anne Vest, 22, has attended the camp both years. Vest was born with Down syndrome and attended the Tecumseh Local School District, where she cheered as a ninth grader. She currently works at the Marshall’s store in Huber Heights.
“When she knows she has cheerleading, she’s so happy, she’s just bouncing up and down,” said Vest’s mother, Tonya Varney.
Vest especially enjoyed the Wildcats victory. After the game, the cheerleaders and the students ate pizza, she said.
“It’s my favorite,” she said.
The program is wonderful and provides an opportunity for students who may not have the opportunity to participate, Varney said. Next year, she hopes to visit local schools to encourage more girls with disabilities to attend the camp.
“The girls and Joanna are awesome,” she said. “We’ll be back every year that they let us.”
Snowhill Elementary School student Ella Kuehnle — the daughter of Springfield High campus director — has participated in the camp each of the last two years. Ella Kuehnle, 11, also has Down syndrome.
“She loves it,” Johnathan Kuenhle said. “She wears the shirt all the time. Ever since she started, she wants to come to every game with Daddy. She’ll say ‘I want to go see my friends, do a little cheerleading dance and yell ‘Go Cats!’,” Johnathan Kuenhle said.
At the football and basketball games, Ella Kuehnle quickly finds her way to the cheerleaders, her father said.
“They welcome her just like she’s one of them,” he said. “It’s amazing how accepting our students are, not just the cheerleaders, but all of our students.
Students with disabilities don’t always have the opportunity to participate in that type of program, Kuehnle said. He hopes the program can become bigger and better next year.
“It helps to level the playing field and have that accessibility,” he said.
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