The following story is from Dons Press by El Cid, “Stronger Together: Cheer and Dance Combine Routines.”

Have you noticed that dance and cheer are combining routines at pep rallies and football games? This year, the teams have started collaborating for the first time under the leadership of the new coach. While it may seem like no hard task, the dancers and cheerleaders share the inside scoop on what cheer and dance actually entail.

Pearl Smith ’26 has been on the dance team for two years now and shares, “It’s a really nice opportunity to sort of see both of the teams’ strengths in action together and sort of working together to make them more cohesive and exciting to watch.” With the new opportunity to collaborate with the cheer team, Smith loves to have a chance to dance with the cheer team.

Smith looks forward to the remainder of the year because, “This is the first year we’ve ever done something like this.”

As you have seen, the dance team used to be the only performance at halftime with cheerleaders running the sidelines by the student section. But that all changed when the Don’s former head cheer coach, Shandy Carlson, moved on from being a coach.

Tammy McPhee Davila stepped up to be the new Don’s head cheer coach and added some high collegiate-level performances that are sure to leave every audience in shock. With Davila’s background of being an ex-Chargers Cheerleader for the NFL, she shares, “From my experience cheering in the NFL, I’ve learned the value of discipline, preparation, and professionalism, and I bring those lessons directly to Cathedral’s program.”

Cheerleader Rebecca Kalkin ’28 says, “I think everyone has benefited from the change. I think as a new member of varsity, I’m really liking how things are looking.”

Some standout cheerleaders on the team this year are Fiamma Busalacchi ’29 and Daniela Bernitt ’27, as both of these girls have made an immediate impact since their time on the cheer team.

The hair, makeup, bows, and sparkly uniforms are all fun, but an intense amount of hard training and dedication are required by each girl to pull off the halftime shows that are looked forward to by many students at football games. Davila says, routines take about 10-20 hours, and they “adjust the routines based on each team’s skills so that everyone can shine and perform at their best.”

Combined with over 50 girls rostered between both teams this year, Coach Tammy and assistant dance coach, Coach Hibbs, find a way to display all of their strengths, despite the huge roster.

Kristen Hibbs, says, “Practices we’ve held with cheer have been super productive and a lot of fun! The teams have done a great job collaborating with each other.”

Keela Horton ’28, Olivia Hellenkamp ’28, Zoey Hibbs ’28, and Keelyn Jones ’28 are four standout underclassmen for this year’s varsity dance team who are expected to be a benefit to the team.

Cheer and dance will continue to work with each other, throughout the whole year, to nail each halftime performance, week after week. Support your Dons at the Friday night football and basketball games!