Alum leads cheer team

 Kirkwood Community College's cheer squad traveled to South Carolina for nationals and earn 12th place. They competed in the small coed division, along with the University of Dubuque and Iowa Central Community College.  

This is the first time in school history that the Eagles cheer squad represented the school at nationals. Krystal Fitzpatrick is in her third year as head coach of the Eagle’s cheerleaders and a former Kirkwood cheerleader.  Fitzpatrick was previously the head cheer coach at Cornell College in Mount Vernon.  

“Everyone’s a first year cheerleader so it’ll be great that they will be coming back next year,” said Fitzpatrick. “It will be good to go back next year with a squad that 90 percent of them were there the year before.” 

Fitzpatrick said her proudest coaching moment has been watching a team come together in their first year.

The team is made up of 11 squad members, including 10 freshmen and one sophomore. Team Captain Hunter Wille is the only male on the squad. Wille said he was just as excited as the rest of the team about traveling over spring break. 

Wille stated, “Being the first from Kirkwood we feel the pressure but pressure’s always good. If you don’t feel pressure then you won’t give yourself the best you can put out. “

Destiney Loney, a first year student and first year member of the cheerleading team said, “It’s different from what most students do for spring break. Everyone will have a break from school but I’ll be working my butt off.” 

She added, “To be able to go to nationals my freshman year of college is a dream come true.” 

Teammate Rebecca Epauls said she was also excited about the trip. “Not a lot of people have heard of Kirkwood, so we’re going to try and make a na