Morris talks poms coming up at CASC

Carl Albert State College cheerleading coach Kaitlyn Morris illustrated to the Poteau Kiwanis Club the mission of her squad as her develops a new incarnation of cheerleading at CASC.

Morris acknowledged that the squad will cheer at CASC wrestling meets. However, the squad will be competitive in nature. Training will be geared toward getting to the NCAA nationals at Daytona Beach, Fla.

“It’s really intense. The competitiveness has really amped up in the past 10 years. I’m really excited to be part of something that is growing so quickly,” she said.

Morris was a private coach and consulted with high schools to help them with tryouts while she was in college. To prepare for coaching, she has studied film of junior college cheer squads in competition.

“I’ve been researching teams that competed this past April [in nationals]. I’ve been watching where teams fall in the divisions,” she said.

After Morris became the CASC cheer coach, she invited students with interest regardless of their cheerleading background. She said the squad would accept men, but has not had any who expressed sustained interest.

She received a very good response and hopes to have a roster of 16-20 cheerleaders after this week’s cheer clinic and the tryouts that took place on Friday.

“There’s a lot to work towards. I was actually impressed by the skill level of the people that we have trying out. We have some really impressive athletes,” she said.

Scholarships will be offered for cheerleaders.

Morris said the squad will be fundraising to cover cheerleading expenses and costs for the trip to nationals.

Morris is also seeking cheerleading sponsors. Businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring the squad can contact her at 918-647-1551 or kemorris@carlalbert.edu.

Morris gave her story as a Poteau resident coming around to coach CASC cheerleading.

“I cheered in high school for Poteau. I also cheered for a competitive gym out of Arkansas. They were really great. I had to retire a little bit early. I had an injury in my senior year, so I wasn’t able to cheer in college. It’s heartbreaking for me, but I get to offer that to students at Carl Albert. They get to have that, something that was my dream. I know what an opportunity it is to be a college athlete,” she said.