Cheerleader's big dreams

Down syndrome student leaps to fame with flair

By Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 17, 2007 at 12:30 a.m.

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Photo by Photos by Chris Schneider © The Rocky

Megan Bomgaars, center, who has Down syndrome, practices a cheer with Natalie Scholander, left, and Kaire Phelps at Evergreen High School.

Kris Bomgaars gets a hug from her daughter, Megan, 14. On the first day of school, Megan told the cheerleading co-captain that she wanted to be a cheerleader, be famous and be on TV.

At the end of cheerleading practice, Megan, center, touches hands with her Evergreen teammates. The squad competes in state championships Dec. 1. "Our goal from the very beginning is she would be treated very much like everyone else," coach Tammy Dufford said.

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"C-O-U-G-A-R-S!

"Let's go!

"COUGARS!"

In practice Tuesday, the Evergreen High School cheerleaders bellowed out their cheers with the loosey-goosey confidence of a squad on a roll.

Last week, for the first time in recent memory, the squad took a first place in the regional cheerleading championships. Now they're revving up for state championships on Dec. 1.

"1,2,3, Go, Cougars!" they screamed.

On cue, they hoisted one of their own high in the air.

She's Megan Bomgaars, a teammate half their size, but maybe - just maybe - with twice their dreams.

Before the team met her, "She said, 'I want to be a cheerleader and be famous and be on TV,' " said the squad's co-captain Stephanie Dufford, 17, recalling her conversation with Megan on the first day of school.

"I said, 'Well, you should come try out.' "

From that invitation, it's been a short leap to cartwheels, straddle sits, and the roar of the crowd. It's the stuff of cheerleaders everywhere but not necessarily what Megan's family expected for her.

Megan, who turns 15 this month, has Down syndrome.

"Cognitively, she functions lower than socially. Her social skills are high," explained her mother, Kris Bomgaars.

"I just want to be a cheerleader," Megan explained during a practice break.

"I feel it's fun to be famous, but I feel nervous, too," Megan said.

Everybody gets nervous, pointed out her coach Tammy Dufford, who is Stephanie Dufford's mother: "She's just brave enough to show it."

It's been a brave new world for Megan ever since she and her mother moved to Denver this year to be closer to family.

At their home in Atlanta, Megan was isolated and lonely, her mother said.

"I heard Evergreen was a really, really nice community," said Bomgaars, 37, who is divorced and works as a special education teacher.

"It's a place where I can see Megan as an adult. If you're a parent of a child with a disability, you do that - you think years and years ahead," she said.

Now, to her surprise, Bomgaars isn't just thinking years and years ahead, but to tomorrow's cheerleading practice and next month's competition.

Then there are the invitations to sleep overs, the phone calls at all hours, the homecoming dance. . . .

"I feel I'm losing my little girl but gaining this very strong, confident young lady," Bomgaars said.

Megan's new life began the day of school orientation, when Stephanie Dufford, who was showing newcomers around the school, invited Megan to try out. Megan's longtime cheerleading dream was coming together.

But what would the squad think?

Megan's mother was worried: "There's that stereotype of cheerleaders being snobby and exclusive. I didn't want Megan to feel out of place."

No worries on that score.

"These girls are beautiful inside and out," coach Tammy Dufford said. "And they are so supportive of each other."

'Jumps and stunts'

Still, the squad had questions. If she joined the team, how much could Megan do? How would it affect their competition scores?

Tammy Dufford checked, and concluded it was impossible to say what individual judges would do.

The team did some research on Down syndrome. Megan was likely to have less muscular tone and tire easily. It would take her longer to learn routines.

They considered, then voted, and it was unanimous. Megan was on the team.

"It makes me feel really proud of our team that we're accepting and nonjudgmental," said Melanie Lawrence, 17. "We're not typical cheerleaders - like you have to be in the 'popular' crowd to sit with us."

"Our goal from the very beginning is she would be treated very much like everyone else," Tammy Dufford said.

Megan can do the tumbling and cheers, but takes a break from some of the fast-paced routines and more strenuous stunts, especially balancing motions.

Team members aren't shy about helping her, either: "We'll poke her in the knee: "Tighter! Tighter!" chuckled Natalia Portillo, 17.

"Jumps and stunts and things like that - going up high" are the most difficult, Megan said, but added, "They told me I should be part of the squad and they are so happy for me."

Crowd goes crazy for her

Megan has won hearts, not just a spot on the team.

"We were close already and it's been fun adding Megan on," said Kaire Phelps, 14.

At one of the team sleepovers, "we found out she doesn't like scary movies so we watched gymnastics and dance movies," said Maggie Selinske, 15. "We love her."

Once her shyness gives way, Megan's sense of humor comes through. For example, she does a dead-on imitation of a model's runway walk. She dances up a storm. At the recent Homecoming celebration, some of the cheerleaders decided to go dateless to spend more time with Megan.

"She's really become like one of our sisters," said Stacy Hamilton, 17.

Good things have come to the team since Megan arrived.

"The attitude this year is a bit more mellow, a little closer," said co-captain Katy Evesich, 17. "There's good bonding and sleepovers. No catfighting."

Unlike other years there haven't even been any injuries.

And then there was last week's big win.

During the finale, Shanna Anacona, 16, was immersed in her part of the routine as teammates began lifting Megan high over their heads.

"I couldn't see Megan but I knew it was coming," Shanna said. "And then the entire crowd just, like, goes crazy for her. It was touching."

So, in a few weeks, all Megan's dreams will have come true.

"She said she wanted to be on TV, and now she is," said Natalie Scholander, 16. "It helps us want it more, to see how much she wants it."

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Comments

November 17, 2007

9:56 a.m.

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Hedz writes:

Oh that is so AWESOME!!!!!! GO MEGAN!!!!!!! I wish we could come watch you in the state finals!
November 17, 2007

5:55 p.m.

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Haley007 writes:

I'm so proud of these girls, I used to be on the Evergreen cheer squad and what they have done this year has really touched me. :)
November 17, 2007

9:01 p.m.

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kevezich writes:

I want to thank all of you who are supporting us! Come see the Evergreen Cheers at the coliseum December 1st.
Go Megan, go Megan, go go, go Megan!!!!!!
-Katy (co-captain)
November 17, 2007

9:53 p.m.

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JLead writes:

I'm in Megan's Art class and I have to say that by doing this, she is showing that she can do what she wants. Megan, your determination and heart is like none other. Way to go!!
November 20, 2007

12:13 p.m.

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hopelovegrace writes:

This article was incredibly inspiring for me, as the mother of a 4 year old little girl who also has Down syndrome. It brought tears to my eyes. I only hope that one day my little girl can achieve her dreams. Congratulations, Megan, for letting your dreams be known and for going for them. And thank you, to all the girls on her cheerleading squad, for welcoming her with open arms and including her in all your social activities. You girls are setting a wonderful example for other students. :) I'm sure her mother is very proud of her and happy that she's able to accomplish what she set out to do.

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