Millikin University to offer cheerleading camp

January 2, 2024 9

DECATUR — The Millikin University Department of Athletics is hosting a cheerleading camp on Monday, Jan. 15 at the Decatur Indoor Sports Center (DISC). The camp will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on that day.

The annual camp is for kids between the ages of 4 and 12 interested in cheerleading. The program is led by the Big Blue cheerleaders, who will be not only teaching attendees how to cheer and dance but also to perform stunts and tumble.

“It is a good way for us to give back to the Decatur community and partner with the DISC,” said cheerleading coach Sarah Rapp. “Last year, we had 90 kids attend, and it is so fun to see the little kids come out. The team looks forward to it, and the kids in the community do as well. We have ones that have never cheered before and some older ones that might be on their school team or a competition team. We can cater to their skill sets with the older kids doing more tumbling.”

The cost per child is $47, and participants will receive a hair bow and T-shirt. The class will also perform during the halftime period of the men’s basketball game against Carroll University on Saturday, Jan. 27 in the Griswold Center.

Parents can call the DISC to reserve their child’s spot by calling (217) 429-3472. Discounted rates are available to families who are members of the DISC.

Millikin to also holding junior high, high school camps

The cheerleaders will lead several stunts and tumbling classes for junior high and high school students throughout the winter on January 21, February 3, March 2, and March 17. The times will be 10 a.m. to noon on January 21 and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the other three dates.

The junior high and high school clinics will be in Millikin’s Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre, located at 1099 W. Wood St. The cost for these clinics is $30 per athlete, and they can register here. Registration is open for approximately one month before each clinic.

“The clinics are a great recruiting opportunity for local high school students who are interested in coming to Millikin and are interested in cheering. They can get a taste of what our team looks like and our skill level,” Rapp said. “They do a lot of the stunts and pyramids that we do, so they get that early taste of what college cheerleading is like, in hopes that they will be future Millikin cheerleaders one day.”

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