We’ve Got Spirit, How About You?

By Layah Lopes | Published October 16, 2023

Spirits are on the rise, and it’s not just because of Halloween. Founded just seven months ago, the Kean University Cheer Club is quickly gaining traction.

To raise morale, sophomore Shukuran Adewole has collaborated with track and field and cross-country coach Daniel Todman to start a new cheerleading club at the university.

The ball started rolling when Shukuran Adewole noticed a lack of spirit at the university’s basketball games. With The intent to make a change, a meeting was set up with the president, the director of CLS, and the director of athletics.

“Why aren’t there cheerleaders here? It’s dry, there’s no spirit in the gym,” Adewole said, expressing her disheartenment, and queried the lack of effort towards having a team.

The response was that an attempt was made in the past and had yet to work. A lack of funding also played a role in the university’s efforts towards a team.

“We need school spirit, we need liveliness at the games,” says Adewole. 

Cheerleaders have become a vital part of the university athletic community, rallying fans and athletes alike. So it’s not hard to see why someone would be so encouraged to create that environment.

With that being said, Adewole suggested starting up a cheer club. Of course, liability issues arose, but she assured the three that no one would be getting thrown in the air. From there, the idea was approved and set in motion.

Gathering three other students with a shared vision and determination, Adewole collaborated with Danielle Felix, Caroline Gil, and Jada James to start the newly minted cheerleading club.

But you can’t have a strong team without a strong role model. So they set out to find a leader who could mediate, administrate, and motivate the club.

What seemed like a difficult search turned into an easy find when Adewole thought her Track coach would be the perfect fit.

Instantly after being approached with the idea, the first thing that came to mind was “Go for it; every good thing comes out of just giving it a try,” says Todman. 

An uplifting coach who believes cheer will bring people out and boost morale for the University soon became the advisor of the first-ever cheer team at Kean University.

So far, these amazing young adults have riled up an energetic group and hope to keep growing from here.The club will be practicing on a five-day basis and will be performing at the university sports events.

Gathering three other students with a shared vision and determination, Adewole collaborated with Danielle Felix, Caroline Gil, and Jada James to start the newly minted cheerleading club.

 But you can’t have a strong team without a strong role model. So they set out to find a leader who could mediate, administrate, and motivate the club.

What seemed like a difficult search turned into an easy find when Adewole thought her Track coach would be the perfect fit.

Instantly after being approached with the idea, the first thing that came to mind was “Go for it; every good thing comes out of just giving it a try,” says Todman. 

An uplifting coach who believes cheer will bring people out and boost morale for the University soon became the advisor of the first-ever cheer team at Kean University.

So far, these amazing young adults have riled up anenergetic group and hope to keep growing from here.The club will be practicing on a five-day basis and will be performing at the university sports events.

Both Todman and Adewole encourage any students interested in joining to stop by and give it a try.

“Just come and show what you have,” says Adewole.

The club welcomes students of all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned cheerleader or a complete novice. 

“Give it a try, it might be the best thing you ever had. You might find people you never knew you needed,” says Todman. 

So get excited because the Kean University cheer club is here to get you riled up and in the spirit of sportsmanship.

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