Kiefer’s Grace Dangott
Grace Dangott is leaving Kiefer High School with memories few student-athletes ever get to claim: a state championship, a close-knit team and a final season she said could not have ended any better.
Dangott, a senior varsity cheerleader for the Lady Trojans, said the bond with her teammates defined her experience as much as any trophy. “What I love most about my teammates is that every single one of us gets along and there is never a dull moment with them,” she said.
That sense of connection helped shape Dangott during her years in the program. She said her mother and sister played a major role in that journey, encouraging her from the beginning and staying by her side through every stage of cheer. “The people who inspire me the most are my mom and sister,” Dangott said. “They have pushed me from the beginning to do cheer and have always been my biggest supporters.”
Her favorite memory came on the biggest stage. Dangott said winning Kiefer’s first state cheer championship is something she will always carry with her. “It was the most surreal feeling ever,” she said.
As graduation approaches, Dangott said the hardest part of moving on is knowing her time on the competition floor is over. “The toughest part about leaving is knowing I will never be able to experience walking on that competition mat again,” she said.
Still, she said she is at peace with the way her senior year ended. “The most exciting part about leaving is knowing that my last year of cheering went out in the best way possible, and I would not change a single thing about it,” she said.
Dangott also credits teammate Dylin Burns for leaving a lasting impression. Burns’ advice — “Leave everything on the mat” — became a mindset Dangott carried into performances.
After graduation, Dangott plans to attend Tulsa Community College for two years before transferring to Northeastern State University to study speech-language pathology. She said her time at Kiefer changed her for the better.
“My time at Kiefer High School has been special because joining cheer really changed me and helped me become a better person,” Dangott said. “I am excited to carry these memories with me into the next chapter.”
