Cheerleaders stunt with alumni on homecoming

~The team works on its marching style, formation and stunting for its homecoming performance

The Southeast Missouri State University cheerleading team is excited to showcase its hard work at both the homecoming parade and game.

"Homecoming, for me, is probably the most fun thing all year because we get to stunt with alumni" cheerleader Amy Swartzbaugh said.

The team prepares all year to perform for not just the audience at Southeast, but also the alumni who come back every year. Southeast alumni cheerleaders come back to see what new things the team is doing and to stunt with the team members.

When the team talks about being able to stunt with the former cheerleaders, it means the alumni will join the current team in performing routines and moves during homecoming.

Senior cheerleader Taylor Johnson said she "loves getting to stunt with past cheerleaders and do things that you normally wouldn't do."

Normally the team would not get to perform with the alumni or have a big parade in front of all of their peers before a game.

Having the alumni come back to Southeast for homecoming is an important tradition for men and women on the team.

"Our tradition is to stunt with the alumni when they come down, because for me, I am an older guy, so I know some of the people who come back," first year graduate student David Massey said.

The team puts in a lot of preparation for both the parade and game. Members wake up for homecoming day at about 6 a.m. and stay energetic all day long until the game is over.

"We prepare a lot through practices on our pyramids because they have to be perfect for the parade as we are doing them on the concrete streets," Massey said.

Coach Kodie Bennett makes sure the team is prepared for the parade, whether that means its marching style or how to tweak their formation from the game pyramid to the parade form.

"We take a really good chunk out of practice time before the parade to adjust their stance, learn to march behind the band and be ready at any time for the fight song," Bennett said.

Bennett also takes pride in having fun with the alumni when they come back to stunt with the team.

"The one thing for us is that it's really fun to reach to our alumni and have them perform with us," Bennett said. "It's also kind of fun to have the alumni come and see what we are learning, what's new and to also see what traditions we are still holding on to."

The team and alumni will perform stunts and routines while they tailgate before the game and after the parade.