McDaniel cheering at Lindenwood University
<span>CHESTER - Former Chester High School cheerleader Taylor McDaniel will have an opportunity not many high school cheerleaders get following graduation.</span>
<span>McDaniel, a four-year member of the Yellow Jackets Cheer Squad, has been selected to continue her cheerleading career at the college level.</span>
<span>Taylor found out late last school year that she was being heavily recruited as a base cheerleader at two different universities - Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. and McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill.</span>
<span>After talking to both schools McDaniel made the decision to accept the opportunity to cheer at Lindenwood. Her life as both a college student and a collegiate cheerleader began Tuesday August 11 on her first day to report at Lindenwood as a college freshman.</span>
<span>"Almost every summer throughout high school I took part in open gyms and other training clinics and camps," McDaniel said. "While there, the Lindenwood coaches saw me and contacted me about cheering for them at the Lindenwood campus.</span>
<span>"McKendree also was interested, but I decided that Lindenwood was a better fit and the coaches really showed a lot interest in me."</span>
<span>At Lindenwood, McDaniel plans to pursue a career in athletic training. At CHS, she was involved in the school's musicals and drama productions and enjoyed concert choir, LifeJackets, Drug Free Youth and SADD.</span>
<span>She was also a four-year member of the YellowJackets Cheerleading Team where she served as a base. </span>
<span>"When I was a little girl I always watched the collegiate cheerleaders on television and dreamed about someday being one of those girls on TV," McDaniel said. "Now it seems as if my dream has come true and I might be the girl that others are watching on TV."</span>
<span>If history repeats itself, McDaniel just might get her wish for TV recognition and fame because the Lindenwood squad has a reputation for being nationally known.</span>
<span>The Co-Ed squad has three national titles in competition and the All-Girl Competition Squad has two National Titles.</span>
<span>McDaniel's head coach at Lindenwood, Carrie Nichols, is excited to see her joining the squad and has assigned her to the All-Girls Competitive Squad.</span>
<span>Rachel Ranta-Marshall was McDaniel's cheer coach all four years at Chester High School.</span>
<span>"Taylor was a very strong base for the Lady Jackets and she was very dependable," Ranta said. "She worked all summer each year doing extra tumbling. She constantly tried to improve her cheer skills and she was very spirited."</span>
<span>Ranta retired as CHS Cheerleading Coach at the end of the CHS basketball and competitive seasons last year, but added she will serve as a volunteer cheer coach at CHS this year assisting new head cheerleading coach Cindy McDaniel, who happens to be Taylor's mother.</span>
<span>"This year without having all of the responsibility for the squad, I will enjoy having the freedom to come watch the 2015-2016 CHS Cheerleaders," said Ranta. </span>
<span>"I am very excited and proud of my daughter," Coach McDonald said. "She has worked hard to accomplish her goal of being selected for a university cheer squad and she is fulfilling a life-long dream.</span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8d70f31c-23bf-73e7-6e02-d0f2a2123f60"><span>"I will miss my best friend, but her father, Chuck, and I intend to travel frequently to see her cheer and compete in college. On September 25, the Lindenwood squad will perform at Busch Stadium for a Cardinals game. That will be pretty special."</span></span>