Kiefer Spirit Team 2025
When Head Cheer Coach/Assistant Pom Coach Tracie Sexson and Head Pom Coach/Assistant Cheer Coach Sydney Rider formed their team, it was unlike any other.
Combining both cheer and pom to form a competition team is unusual, but it works great at Kiefer High School. With 22 varsity cheer members on the Class 3A competitive cheer team and 14 varsity pom members on the Class 2A OSDTDA pom and mix competition team, and five members who compete in both, the level of work and attention to detail is off the charts.
“Girls often have a background in both cheer and dance, so they can use those skills to succeed at a high school level. Several girls who tumble can use those talents in both cheer and dance. Our entire team cheers on the sidelines for football, basketball, and wrestling,” Coach Sexson said. “Each girl competes in either cheer, dance, or both. For our combined team, the idea behind it was that girls who cheer or dance do not have to choose once they reach the high school level. At Kiefer, we want to provide an opportunity for our athletes to compete in both sports.”
This formula has been in place for several seasons and the benefits far outweigh returning to the old system.
“We are currently in our fourth year of coaching together. Our competitive cheer team has qualified for state for the past three years and placed in the top five in 3A in the past two years. Our Pom team placed third in the state in their inaugural season, and last year, they won the 2A Pom State Championship,” said Sexson.
The Spirit Team is forced to adjust their routines to combine both elements into a program.
“We work directly together each day. We each have our area of specialty, but just as the sports complement each other, so do our programs. Athletes on our team must learn to be good at all elements on the sidelines. We use these skills at pep rallies and halftimes as well. There are moments for each program to shine, but we also do combined routines to showcase all of our combined talents,” said Sexson.
From their success on the field and in competition, Sexson said the coaching staff is proud of the team’s hard work and dedication to the program.
“We are very proud of this team and how hard they have worked to create a gameday culture. They are truly town leaders and shine at the games. Cheering at the games is one of our favorite parts of the team, and by far where the girls have the most fun.”
