New cheerleading squad adds a spark to Siletz Valley basketball games
By Diana Wilsey, Teacher, Siletz Valley
School
When I first came to Siletz Valley
Schools from Washington to be the new
fifth-grade teacher, I was blown away not
only by the energetic and positive attitude
of the newly hired teachers and the sup-
portive and caring principal, but also by
the school’s athletic program.
The attendance at the younger league,
middle school and high school football
games was full of fans and community
members. I loved going to all of the games
and watching practically the whole town
show up to support players.
The only thing I saw missing were the
spirited cheerleaders to help fan the flames
of the crowd’s excitement.
When I talked to school principal/
superintendent, Dr. Sam Tupou, about this
lack of cheerleaders, he told me to start
a squad. “Could I do that?” I thought to
myself. It took me a few days to realize
that yes, I could.
So I asked for help from the coaches,
specifically Willie Worman and Tony
Blomstrom – could they help me get
going in the right direction? The first
step to forming a cheerleading squad
was to get uniforms so the girls not
only looked like cheerleaders, but also felt
like cheerleaders.
The road to fundraising was long and
arduous, but with the help of the Siletz
community, countless people and busi-
nesses like Fawn Metcalf, Dee-Ni Gifts
and Georgia Pacific, the cheerleaders were
able to fundraise 100 percent of the cost
of the squad’s uniforms before basketball
season ended.
The cheerleaders brought a new
dynamic and light to the basketball games.
The loud and sassy cheerleaders, young
ladies from the second through fifth grade,
have noticeable confidence and positive
attitudes shining through them.
Chesney Huerta, an A squad cheer-
leader in my fifth-grade class, told me that
she has never before been a part of a team.
“I don’t really like sports and so I
never wanted to play. Cheerleading allows
me to actually do something and be a part
of something really fun. I love dancing and
cheering,” she said.
Courtesy photo by Memories by Michelle (Michelle McKibbon)
Diana Wilsey and the Siletz Valley Cheerleaders
The first few cheerleading games, the
girls cheered in black leggings or shorts
and a red Siletz T-shirt. They were ador-
able but yet confided in me that they didn’t
“feel” like real cheerleaders.
At the start of basketball season, we
were still short more than half the cost
of the uniforms and I was nervous that I
would have to tell the girls they weren’t
getting uniforms this year. The raffle
drawings during football season and the
beginning of basketball helped bring in
half the funds, but a lot more was needed.
Chinook Winds Casino Resort has
an incredible program where they give
funds to help schools and communities.
Its generous donation of $300 and a week-
end package for a raffle item pushed the
squad to continue finding new avenues to
fundraise. Willie Worman helped set up
a GoFundMe page on Facebook and we
were able to raise $500 from people all
around the country.
At the homestretch of fundraising,
Larry Parker approached me during half-
time at a basketball game, saying he came
specifically to watch the cheerleaders,
and asked me how much money was still
needed to fund the uniforms.
After a few other incredibly generous
donations from Mike Garling, an Oregon
educator who supports Siletz Valley
Schools, and Butch Heller, we were only
Most Often Requested
Numbers
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians –
800-922-1399
Salem Area Office – 503-390-9494
Salem Finance Office – 888-870-9051
Portland Area Office – 503-238-1512
Eugene Area Office – 541-484-4234
CEDARR
Community Efforts Demonstrating the Ability to Rebuild and Restore
Mission Statement
We will utilize resources to prevent the use of alcohol and other drugs,
delinquency and violence; we will seek to reduce the barriers to treatment
and support those who choose abstinance.
$200 shy. Larry came back 20 minutes
later with a check for $250. We were get-
ting our uniforms! The girls were ecstatic
and the following day, I ordered them.
The day the uniforms came in, a
complete transformation was seen by
not only me, but by the crowd. The girls
yelled louder, their dance routines were
sassier and a whole new confidence over-
took them. They were finally seen as real
cheerleaders and better yet, they felt like
real cheerleaders.
The support from the community
has been nothing but positive and gener-
ous. I have been told countless times how
amazing the girls look and how beautiful
they are.
Their cheers, which took several weeks
to learn, are so loud and fun, the players
sometimes have a hard time hearing the
calls from their coaches, but according to
the varsity girls basketball team, they love
it and wouldn’t change a thing.
Bringing a cheerleading squad to
Siletz Valley Schools and volunteering to
whip these girls into cheerleader shape
has been an incredible blessing, but one
I could not have done on my own.
Elizabeth Annunzio, a mom for one of
my A squad cheerleaders, Chloe Annunzio,
has been a valuable and supportive volun-
teer. She had been looking for a program
to do with her young daughters and weeks
Contract Health Services (CHS) –
800-628-5720
Siletz Community Health Clinic –
800-648-0449
Siletz Behavioral Health –
800-600-5599
before the cheerleading flier went up at
school, she was looking into an after-school
cheerleading program in Newport.
“When I saw the signs that you were
starting a cheer program, I was so excited.
I wanted to find something I could do with
my daughters and that we could actively
do together,” she said.
Elizabeth was at every practice watch-
ing and helping, eventually becoming a
co-coach, whether she signed up for it or
not. Some of our favorite cheers are ones
she and her daughters found and practiced
on weekends, then brought to teach us at
our daily practices.
The help and energy I get from Eliza-
beth is wonderful and I love that I have
someone I can count on to be there for me
and help out in the little things.
Whether it’s a kind word from a com-
munity member, Gatorade donated to the
girls at the games by Patricia Mills or
discounted food during the games from
the Siletz Boosters, every member of this
community has helped bring cheerleading
its life and value.
I am honored to be a part of this com-
munity and I look forward to what the
coming years have in store. I’m already
projecting a much bigger squad and fund-
raising project for next year as I have plans
to have cheerleaders at the home football,
volleyball and basketball games.
Chinook Winds Casino Resort –
888-244-6665
Chemawa Health Clinic – 800-452-7823
Bureau of Indian Affairs – 800-323-8517
Website – ctsi.nsn.us
Siletz Tribal Behavioral Health Programs
Prevention, Outpatient Treatment, and
Women’s and Men’s Transitional
Siletz: 800-600-5599 or
541-444-8286
Narcotics Anonymous Toll-Free
Help Line – 877-233-4287
Eugene: 541-484-4234
April 6 • Noon
Salem: 503-390-9494
Siletz Community Health Clinic
200 Gwee-Shut Road, Siletz
8
•
Siletz News
•
April 2016
Portland: 503-238-1512
For information on Alcoholics
Anonymous: aa-oregon.org