The 2017-2018 ADM cheerleading squad has experienced an abrupt change this past season. According to a text sent by Head Coach Kaitlyn Reams to the squad, due to personal issues and difficulties with the school, Reams decided to quit in the middle of October. As for now, the Assistant Coach Alec Craigmile has been moved to head coach. There are various feelings towards Reams’ decision to back away from her position.

Senior Emily Wilkerson has been cheering for six years and has been cheer captain for two years. She said Reams changed the direction cheer was going.

“We had really great success placing at State over the past few years she has been coaching. She’s brought new ideas to the program.”

When telling the news to her squad, Reams sent out a group message to explain her reasoning and dilemma. Unfortunately, Wilkerson did not receive the text. She was confused when other teammates asked her if she was okay. Later on, her teammates sent her the text, as well.

“I was a little upset about it [not getting the text], but it was probably just an honest mistake,” Wilkerson said. 

Now that Reams is gone, Wilkerson said it has made the team push for what they want and work well together.

This spring, Wilkerson will be cheering at All-State and trying out for the Iowa State Cheer squad.

As for Senior Emily Gard, the announcement was more emotional.

“I was more disappointed. Not in her because I respected her decision, but I was upset with the situation,” Gard said.

Besides being a coach, Reams was someone that Gard could go to for anything.

“I liked how caring she was outside of cheerleading. You could always call or text her at any time of the night and she would be more than willing to help you with any problems. She helped a lot with my family problems, so she’s kind of like a second mom to me,” Gard said.

The week after resigning, the cheerleaders were either angry or sad at the situation during practices.

“Overall, we were more motivated because we wanted to show her we can do this. We wanted to do it for her [Reams],” Gard said.

Recently Gard has decided to be on the cheerleading squad for basketball.

“I just didn’t want to let it go,” Gard said.

Activities Director Reece Satre said the situation was nothing out of the ordinary to him. He receives letters of resignation from time to time, then goes on to the process of sending it through to the District Office.

The process of getting a new coach hired is in the works. During the winter, the two coaches split basketball and wrestling cheer, then come together for fall when there is football and competition cheer.

“As of right now Coach Craigmile is planning on doing both unless we can find a replacement, which hopefully we can,” Satre said. “We have that position posted.”

Due to the suddenness and lateness of the situation, if the school is not able to find a replacement at this time, then they will still find a way to provide both cheerleading squads for the winter sports.

“We will try to make the best of the situation and ultimately try to make sure that both sets of our kids that want to cheer at events have the opportunity to,” Satre said.

After this season, the school will still continue the opening position for the fall if it is not filled. It is necessary to have two coaching positions when there are an abundant number of students that participate in the sport.

Even through all the hardships of this season, the competition cheer squad placed 4th in the State Competition last Saturday, November 4. To support the girls, Reams came to watch their showcase and performance at State. As competition and football season have come to an end, the squad will now cheer during wrestling matches and basketball games. Coach Craigmile will juggle coaching both squads as the school waits for the position to be filled.