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Mikayla Atchison to cheer at McKendree University

Posted April 28, 2015 11:00 pm

By Jim Beers For The Herald Tribune

CHESTER - Mikayla Atchison, daughter of Mike and Denice Atchison of Chester, has been selected to cheer at McKendree University beginning this fall.

Atchison has been a standout cheerleader for the Chester High School Cheerleading Team the past four years at CHS and will now have the opportunity take her cheerleading skills to the next level at McKendree.

The announcement was formally made Monday, April 27, at an official "signing" event that took place at Chester High School with family, friends and the McKendree coaching staff present.

Head McKendree Cheer Coach Bianca Timmermann and Assistant Coach Bob Oeth were on hand for the signing.

"At McKendree we have three main cheer groups," Timmerman said. "We have a 'Game Day' squad, a 'Co-Ed' competition squad and an 'All-Girl' competition squad.

"Pretty much every squad cheers at all fall football games and a mixture of all three other squads will make numerous appearances at basketball games throughout the winter. The two competition squads spend most of their winter months preparing for competitions."

Timmermann is primarily the coach of the All-Girl Competition Squad while Oeth is the main coach for the Co-Ed Competition Squad.

"All groups also make various special appearances such as at recruitment events and community events," Oeth said. "We just got done performing for the IHSA State Cheer Competition while the officials were computing the final results.

"We also perform at other special events throughout the area."

Timmerman said McKendree has 10 Game Day cheerleaders, 24 Co-Ed ones and the All-Girl squad has 16.

"They primarily just cheer at football and basketball games," Timmerman said of the Game Day cheerleaders. "The Co-Ed Competition squad totals 24 members and the young men and women cheer at some games, but focus mainly on competing at (National Cheerleading Association) events.

"Finally, the All-Girl squad cheers at football games and a few basketball games. Their main focus is competing at NCA competitions."

McKendree University is a Division II School that competed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The Competition Cheer squad just returned from the NCA Nationals where they finished sixth out of 12 schools.

Timmermann was asked what the judges looked for at tryouts a few weeks ago and what made them select Atchison for the All-Girl Competition squad.

"We really liked Mikayla's tumbling skills along with her basic cheer skills," she said. "Even though she hadn't ever done baskets, Mikayla caught on very quickly and it was quite apparent that she was going to be a great asset to our cheer squad."

At CHS Atchison was very involved at many levels. During the fall she played volleyball her freshman and sophomore years and switched to cross country her junior and senior years. She cheered for football all four years.

"Mikayla has always been highly interested in cheerleading," Denice Atchison said. "She cheered at St. Mary's when she was in grade school and always had cheerleading as her primary sport all four years at Chester High School."

During the winter months, Atchison cheered at basketball games and competed on the Competition Squad at CHS. She is a standout in track and field and continues her dedication to that sport, but cheerleading has been and will always be her great love and first interest.

Atchison also currently ranks 5th academically in her senior class and has always been on the CHS Honor Roll.

"Mikayla could have gone to SWIC for free, but she wanted to get more of the whole college experience by living on campus and being really involved in college life," said Mike Atchison.

At CHS, Mikayla has also been very active in the music programs in both band and chorus. She has been a member of the select Swing Choir Choral group all four years and has been a cast member in most of the school musicals.

Atchison is also very involved in her church and helps out in the community when opportunities arise.

"Mikayla is our goal-oriented daughter," Mike Atchison said. "If she runs up against a hurdle, she finds a way to get over the roadblock.

"She finds a lot of mentorship from her cousin, Nicole Search. Her whole life she has looked up to Nicole."

"Mikayla is very motivated," said Rachel Ranta-Marshall, Mikayla's cheer coach at CHS."She is a good athlete. She has good tumbling skills and she has always been a leader on the CHS squad."

Atchison will report to McKendree twice during the summer for workouts. All cheerleaders report for good on move-in day August 11.

"Throughout the year the team practices six days a week," Timmerman said. "They work on skills three days a week and conditioning and tumbling three days a week.

"Once winter/spring rolls around, they are busy almost non-stop preparing for competition season. We also concentrate on food and nutrition continually."

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