By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Laura Klima-Fehr started her dance career in Great Bend, eventually running a dance studio for nine years and coaching the Crimson Girls dance team at Hoisington High School for nearly a decade. Now she's sharing her love of cheer and dance for a good cause as the second-time cheer director at the Kansas Shrine Bowl this weekend in Pittsburg.
"Last year they called and asked at the last minute if I wanted to be the cheer director, and apply and present to the board of directors," said Klima-Fehr, who has volunteered with the Shriners since cheering in the Shrine Bowl in high school. "I did and it was amazing. Literally, it was like the best week of my life just because you're cheering for more than yourself. You're cheering for these kids who literally can't walk, and some of them can't talk. It's really cool to watch them put in for that cause."
Cheerleaders from around the state are invited to attend the Shrine Bowl festivities. As cheer director, it is Klima-Fehr's job to recruit those athletes for a 4-day camp to learn cheers, chants, and two routines, all of which Klima-Fehr choreographs, for the football game. Proceeds from the camp benefit Shriners Hospitals.
This year's Shrine Bowl features no players from Barton County, but the event will feature many area cheerleaders and band members. The Hoisington High cheerleaders are attending as a squad, and Great Bend and Central Plains will also have representation.
Nearly 200 cheerleaders attended last year's Shrine Bowl, and Klima-Fehr expects a similar number this year. Cheerleaders report to camp Wednesday, and all cheerleaders at the camp will perform at halftime of Saturday's game. A select group of 36 cheerleaders is handpicked to perform before Saturday's football game. The top-eight cheerleaders are given many items to reward them as the Elite Eight.
"It's really wild," Klima-Fehr said. "The first day I walked in last year and was like 'What is this?' Last year we had 198 cheerleaders, and they were all looking at me, waiting to be taught all these things. I was shocked God allowed me to do this, and I was getting to live out a childhood dream. I have a killer staff that volunteers and helps me out."
The Shrine Bowl has helped raise some $3 million for patients at Shriners Hospitals. The cause is not lost on the cheerleaders, who visit patients on day two of the camp.
"That’s the day they realize they’re cheering for something more, beyond themselves," Klima-Fehr said. "It’s for the kids."
Last year, Great Bend's Ashley Reddig and Hoisington's Tricia Schremmer each made the select team. This year, HHS cheer coach Jenna Williams will serve as cheer and stunt coordinator, and Kelsey Brummer will be the athletic trainer, and Sarah Burkhead of Claflin will serve as the youth clinic director. Other assistants include Sarah Staten of Lyons, Jessica Saiz of Sterling, and Stephanie Downie of Concordia. Strong returns alongside Ellinwood's Daphne Doll as assistants this year.
The 49th Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl kicks off at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg. The game will also be broadcast on YouTube and select area cable providers.