New Mexico School For The Deaf Cheer Team Provides Inspiring Performance
Sometimes you see a performance that stands out from the others. For those who attended the 2024 Life of an Athlete State Spirit Championships presented by NMDOT, they were treated to a memorable moment at the Pit. The New Mexico School for the Deaf competed along with all the other schools from around the state.
“The most challenging aspect of having a Deaf cheer team would be that often we are underestimated,” said NMSD cheer coach Misty Dreumont. “Often times, deaf people are overlooked or not seen as ‘good-enough’. Being able to show that we CAN compete at this level is empowering for our students. They need to know that they are just as capable of doing anything that they set their minds to. Deaf representation is so important and to give our students this opportunity is inspiring.”
Eight students, and their two coaches, took the floor at the Pit on Saturday. They maintained their pace and rhythm with the help of a large drum, which is common for other athletic teams at the school. New Mexico School for the Deaf had two prepared routines, like every other program in the field. “The drum’s patterns can be varied. It is loud enough that our students can feel it and can follow the rhythm,” said Dreumont. “We match words or motions to a beat and follow that. It can vary between different chants and cheers.”
This is not the first year NMSD has competed at State. NMSD placed 5th in 2014, 2nd in 1999, and 3rd in 1994. Dreumont says NMSD’s first cheerleading team was established in 1953 with only 4 cheerleaders. “When I joined NMSD in 2016, there was no cheer team,” she said. “So, in 2019, I established the program again. This is my 4th year coaching for NMSD, we had a gap because of COVID during 2020-2021. What I enjoyed about the experience was the opportunity to perform at this level. I did not have this opportunity as a high school cheerleader myself and it is great to have this for our students! For them to grow and for NMSD to be recognized. The support we received from other teams was so wonderful!”
Dreumont said NMSD competed in 2 other Deaf cheer competitions, the Great Plains Schools for the Deaf Basketball & Cheer Tournament, placing 2nd, and the National Deaf Cheerleading Competition, taking 1st for the second straight year. The team was also recognized by the National Deaf Interscholastic Athletic Association (NDIAA) as Division II National Champions & Team of the Year, Sirrah Wilding as Cheerleader of the Year, and Dreumont as Coach of the Year.
