CC Spirit

CC Spirit Squad brings new energy to campus events

» Some of the earliest risers at Columbia College bring the most energy. The Spirit Squad entertains crowds at campus events and enlivens Southwell Athletic Complex during home basketball games – all while those same Cougar cheer and dance teams train and compete at their own competitions.

Shining in the spotlight required commitment behind the scenes for the 20 student-athletes in the program during the 2022-23 academic year. The combined roster size of the teams has grown since they were established two years ago.

Annie Lemerande, dance team captain

Photo by Abigail Wade

“The sun is just coming up when we get here,” head competitive cheer coach Danniele Liles says about the program’s practices, which start around 6:30 a.m. and generally occur three or four days per week, in addition to strength and conditioning.

“The lights are turning on for us. It’s a good start to the day.”

Liles spearheads the Spirit Squad alongside head competitive dance coach Amanda Roberts

Their first priority when they were hired in March 2021 was to improve the atmosphere at Cougar men’s and women’s basketball games.

“Our first job was to come in and bring some of that extra sparkle,” Liles says.

There was more awareness and excitement on campus surrounding the Spirit Squad this year, says Annie Lemerande, dance team captain. “People are definitely realizing how dedicated we are and how serious we are,” she says.

The rising junior is part of the program’s inaugural class, one she hopes will help pave the way.

“We are starting a lot of small traditions here that I know will be carried out for years,” Lemerande says. “It’s really exciting to start something new like that.”

Liles believes the culture at Columbia College is what makes it special. Putting that on display is the Spirit Squad’s specialty.

“We get to be that face a little bit for Columbia College, and all the alumni from the many years of the college’s history, we get to sort of be a face for them and get them represented out in the community in ways that didn’t always happen otherwise,” Liles says.

The composition of the cheer and dance teams this past year was almost entirely freshmen and sophomores. Liles and Roberts expect to expand the size of their respective rosters in the coming years.

After not competing in its first year, the program competed at events in Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska in February before the NAIA cheer and dance qualifiers to round out the month.

February served as the team’s exciting “first foray,” Liles says. The teams debuted in North Newton, Kansas, on Feb. 4 at the Thresher Invitational hosted by Bethel College. The dance team shined with a third-place showing out of 15 schools at the York Invite in York, Nebraska, on Feb. 10 and earned a pair of dual victories one day later in Concordia, Nebraska.

The cheer team posted a season-high score at the Spartan Showcase at Missouri Baptist University on Feb. 17, the same day the dance team also notched its season best.

Dance finished seventh and cheer took ninth in their respective NAIA qualifier events on Feb. 25.

“We are incredibly proud of all the hard work put in by our competitive teams this year,” Liles says. “We couldn’t have asked for a better group of athletes to take on this first season with.”

A confident, hard-work approach is guiding both teams as they make strides forward.

CC cheer team members

“The most important thing we look for and we think we’ve found with the girls we’ve got now is the want, the motivation to come here and keep doing this,” Liles says. “You have to really love this sport and have to love it so much that you want to do everything you can to keep doing it.”

Members of the cheer and dance teams are keeping their dreams alive – together. While they are two teams, they represent one joint program and the college as a whole.

That makes the early mornings well worth the effort.

“We work really hard,” Lemerande says. “We get up every morning at 6:30 to practice, and coach pushes us to our breaking points, but it’s great and we’re all in it together.” –KG

When it comes to school spirit, Scooter is often leading the charge. Rising sophomore Aaron Bilbruck has earned rave reviews for his performances as the beloved Cougar mascot that include dressing for the occasion. Faces light up when people come across Scooter. “Aaron takes it so seriously and has been such a gift to the program,” says Danniele Liles, head competitive cheer coach. “He’s taken Scooter and given him a whole life and personality, and we’re really excited to see the continued growth and use of Scooter being here, there and everywhere.”