Millikin University cheerleaders go through drills Tuesday in Griswold Center in preparation for the National Cheerleading Association’s Cheer Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida.
DECATUR — The Millikin University cheerleaders are about to jump into a competition new to the school and squad.
The group of 20 cheerleaders will be representing the college for the first time at National Cheerleading Association’s Cheer Nationals April 6-10 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
An opportunity to compete is available only through an invitation, according to Sarah Rapp, cheer coach. “This is our third year getting a bid,” she said. “But this is our first year being able to go because of COVID.”
Millikin University cheerleaders practice for the National Cheerleading Association’s Cheer Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The national competition was canceled in 2020. The group admits they weren’t prepared the following year. “This is the first time we’ve really been able to go,” Rapp said. “And this is the perfect group that I could take.”
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The Millikin team participating includes eight seniors. The competition is college level, but broken up into divisions. Millikin is a Coed Division Three team.
“We are the team that if you saw us in public, you wouldn’t think we were a cheerleading team,” Rapp said. “A lot of them don’t have a strong cheerleading background.”
Junior Morgan Hollon is tossed in the air during Millikin University cheerleading practice.
Members of the squad originated in other sports, such as basketball, football and track. “Everyone has that natural sports background that you can integrate into throwing people up into the air,” Rapp said. “They are so much more willing to work hard to get it.”
Alexis Reed was recruited because of her wrestling skills. “They needed somebody that was strong,” she said. “Here I am four years later.”
Emily Mitchell was on her cheerleading squad in high school. “But nothing compared to how big and exciting this is,” she said.
Conor Reynolds is a backspot on the Millikin squad. “I’m a little bit taller, so I reach up a little bit higher,” he said. “I grab calves and ankles, where they (the base) grab the bottom of the feet. So I have a little bit more control and stability.”
Reynolds played baseball and football in high school. “It’s still exciting and rewarding to be able to do all this stuff,” he said. “We’ve come so far from even when we started this summer.”
Head cheerleading coach Sarah Rapp speaks to the team on Tuesday during practice in the Griswold Center.
The competition has several criteria in order to earn points and win. Moves the cheerleaders will make include coed stunts, baskets, dances, running-tumbling, various jumps and a final pyramid. “It’s just a lot of different, intricate details put together,” Rapp said. “It’s just one routine. We have two minutes and 15 seconds to cram everything in there.”
Millikin has had a cheerleading squad for decades. “But there hasn’t been that dedication from both the athlete level and the coaching level,” Rapp said. “There’s a lot of time and effort.”
Sarah Rapp took over the Millikin University cheerleading squad four years ago.
The cheerleaders had to raise the funds for travel expenses as well as for the competition fees, hotel and food. They hosted fundraisers and provided the remaining funds themselves.
“We got about half of it raised, then the rest of it will just come out of our pockets,” Rapp said. “It’s about $28,000 for us all to go.”
As Millikin seniors, Mitchell and Reed were two of the original cheerleaders when Rapp began coaching at Millikin four years ago.
Senior Serron Pettis flips in the air as part of the routine the Millikin University cheerleading squad will perform at the National Cheerleading Association’s Cheer Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida next month.
“This program could not run without her,” Mitchell said. “We’re a bunch of misfit people put together, but it makes our team work.”
“It was just a matter of drawing people back in and rebuilding the program into something Millikin could be proud of,” Reed said.
PHOTOS: Millikin’s wrestling national champion Bradan Birt
Millikin’s Bradan Birth (middle) was the NCAA DIII wrestling national champion at 165 pounds this season.
Millikin’s Bradan Birt became Millikin’s first wrestling national champion after winning the 165-pound title at the NCAA DIII Wrestling Championships on Saturday.
Millikin’s Bradan Birt was 42-0 this season and has a 70-matching winning streak dating back to 2019.
Millikin’s Bradan Birt is undefeated this season with a 14-0 record at 165 pounds.
Bradan Birt prepares a drink in the new downtown Decatur juice bar Station One Nutrition.
Donnette Beckett
Millikin wrestler Bradan Birth (top) won the 165-pound weight class at the National Wrestling Coaches Association DIII National Championships in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday.
Braden Birt, right, goes through drills with assistant Chris Williams on Tuesday at Millikin Wrestling Facility. The Big Blue won the CCIW conference title on Saturday for the second consecutive season.
Braden Birt, top, goes through drills with assistant Chris Williams on Tuesday at Millikin Wrestling Facility.
Millikin’s Bradan Birt, left, goes through drills with assistant Chris Williams in February at Millikin Wrestling Facility. Ten Millikin wrestlers, including Birt, are competing at the National Wrestling Coaches Association DIII championships.
Braden Birt, bottom, goes through drills with assistant Chris Williams on Tuesday at Millikin Wrestling Facility.
Millikin wrestler Bradan Birt is a two-time NCAA All-American.
Millikin Bradan Birt wrestles at practice. Birt, along with three teammates, were at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships when the event was canceled due to the coronavirus.
A whiteboard in Millikin’s wrestling room shows 165-pound wrestler Bradan Birt’s season goals.
Matthew Flaten
Millikin’s Bradan Birt was national champion in 165-pound weight class at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III National Championships.
Millikin’s Bradan Birt is a two-time All-American and has eyes on a national championship this season at 165 pounds.
Millikin’s Bradan Birt completes jump drills during practice recently at Millikin’s wrestling facility.
Millikin’s Bradan Birt spars during during practice recently at Millikin’s wrestling facility.
Millikin’s Bradan Birt has eyes on a national championship this season after finishing sixth and seventh the lats two years.
Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR
