Cheer and STUNT teams celebrate success, culture and ‘the why’

As seen in the Fall 2024 DU Review magazine

Davenport University's cheer and STUNT teams have enjoyed great success over the years, but if you talk to the coaches and players, they'll tell you that winning titles is great, but it's not what matters most.

What's most important, they say, is the supportive culture at Davenport and the desire to do their best, not for themselves but for their teammates.

"We have something really special here at Davenport," said Celia Kiogima, head coach for the cheer and STUNT teams. "These athletes have a winner's mentality and a competitive spirit because of the culture we've created. To us, it's more than just about trophies and the win."

Kiogima has had a front-row seat from which to watch the steady progression of these teams, first as a volunteer coach in 2012 and as an assistant coach in 2013. When she took over as head coach in 2015, the cheer teams had already made a name for themselves as a force to be reckoned with at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA).

Her team saw continued growth in 2013 when Davenport added STUNT to its athletic program. The fledgling group was impressive enough to be invited to compete at nationals that first year and finished as first runner-up. Just two years later, they were crowned national champions. They are even featured on the USA Cheer website, which is a testament to their standing in the STUNT community.

Under Kiogima's leadership, the cheer and STUNT teams have flourished. Collectively, they have brought home an impressive nine NCA National Championship titles, eight STUNT National Championship titles and four Mid-America STUNT Conference Championship titles.

Yes, these teams are champions many times over, but the program's mantra is that trophies don't make them winners. They say it is their attitude that makes them winners. It's their desire to lift each other up and their outlook on teamwork that drives their motivation and hunger to succeed as students and as athletes.

The members of the cheer and STUNT teams understand that they are students fi rst and athletes second. Kiogima sees to that. She stresses the importance of succeeding in the classroom just as they do in competitions. And it's a message they hear loud and clear. They have a combined spring semester 3.23 GPA, something they continuously strive to improve.

Assistant coach and second-year nursing student Mackenzie Brower also credits Davenport's culture as one of the team's most powerful guiding forces.

"This program is unlike any other, and it's truly a gift to be able to experience the culture that we have built," said Brower. "These athletes are the perfect balance of fun and hard work, and they know what it takes to be successful. They also know that the journey is what is important, along with having fun and building relationships along the way."

It is natural for coaches to think their team has a great culture, but when players also believe it to be true, it means it's been embedded in every aspect of the program.

This season will be Payton McHugh's fourth year on the competitive cheerleading and STUNT teams. She is pursuing a BBA in Marketing with a specialty in digital promotion and an ABA in finance.

She feels the program is successful because everyone is committed to the same work ethic and because they have fantastic and knowledgeable coaches.

"Our team's work ethic is unlike anything I've seen before, and it's great to know my teammates always have my back," said McHugh. "Winning these titles has been amazing, but it's not what we focus on. We are coached under the principle that this is so much more than just cheer and STUNT and more than the win."

The ultimate success, she says, lies in the bonds they make as a team and lessons learned.

This season will also be Keaghan Otto's fourth year on the cheer and STUNT teams. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in HR management.

She appreciates the level of trust on the team and says it's special to be part of such a hardworking and talented group. She is also thankful to the coaching staff for pushing them to be the best in and out of the practice room.

"Winning titles is, of course, a great feeling and something I will remember forever," said Otto. "The most important thing, though, is being able to do something I love, surrounded by my best friends.

"Kiogima has 58 athletes on the cheer team and 48 on the STUNT team and is proud to say they are all committed to their craft and the bigger purpose of it all.

"They all know they have to work hard as student-athletes and are held to high expectations," she said. "This, in turn, teaches them that there is no limit to their potential in athletics, academics and all other aspects of their lives."

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