With 13 girls on the squad this season and a pandemic to deal with, Buhler High School cheer coach D’ana Heinlein knew this would be a season like no other. In her sixth season, Heinlein start when her oldest daughter was a freshman.

“I started when my oldest was getting ready to start her freshman year at BHS and she is in her second year as a cheerleader for Kansas State. I have a daughter on the squad that is a junior and then my youngest daughter is in 6th grade and she says I have to stay until she graduates,” said Heinlein.

This season unlike others required some serious adjustments made to the way they went about practice and games.

“Some of the challenges include not being able to do the team bonding things that we love doing, not having a cheer banquet to celebrate accomplishments last year, not being able to go to Kansas Shrine Bowl Camp (or any camp), not having spirit night or pep assemblies, not having Kiddie Cru clinic, not being able to stunt, not having space to practice when buildings are shut down for quarantine, not hosting Winter Formal, and not having a “real” crowd to cheer for,” said Heinlein.

But through it all the team has remained resilient and continue to show their passion for their school and community.

“This team has been so unbelievably flexible, resilient, cooperative, positive, compassionate and one of the most coachable squads I’ve had the privilege to coach. I feel very blessed to get to be a cheer coach, to share my passion for the sport and to be a positive and encouraging role model for other young ladies. The future for Buhler cheer is very bright. I think we’re closer because of the things we’ve been through together.”