Building the cheer program at Durango High School
DURANGO, Colo. — Our community is fortunate to have many dedicated coaches leading teams of competitive young athletes. The Durango High School cheerleading team is one of these great opportunities for students and is led by coaches with big vision and genuine support for each member of their team.
Tobi Gillen has been the DHS Cheer head coach for the past two years, previously serving as the assistant coach for five years. As an alumni cheerleader for DHS, Coach Gillen is passionate about the growth and progress the program has experienced. She is grateful for the ongoing and overwhelming support of parent committees, her fellow coaches Amanda Marriott and Shiann Hadden, DHS and middle school athletic directors, and the Durango cheer community overall.
“My personal goal is to grow as a coach and build a successful program that produces scholarships for my athletes plus accomplishments outside of cheerleading through the life skills and discipline we implement in our program.” Coach Gillen shares.
As a coach and former cheerleader, she recognizes that it takes a special type of person to be a cheerleader. These talented athletes are perfecting their physical skills and demonstrating mental toughness while also being supportive of others on the sidelines. The belief Coach Gillen instills in the team is, “We rise by lifting others.” Building a successful cheer program helps to break the misconception that cheer is only meant to support football or other sports. Cheerleaders excel as they support others, push themselves individually, and work as a team in competition, all with a smile on their face.
The coaching staff is working hard to open the doors to boys who want to join the DHS Cheer program and make it the biggest and best it has ever been. Every cheer team member matters, brings unique skills, and must be committed to camaraderie for the team to succeed. Coach Gillen shares, “I love that it’s a team sport. Yes, a lot of girls can do skills on their own, but for points to be maxed on the scoresheet or a stunt to succeed at its max level, everyone must be all in. That’s why camaraderie and competitiveness need to go hand in hand.”
DHS is proud to share that three members of their cheer team, Luci Rodriguez, Jocilen Thompson, and Jorja Thompson, represented Durango and the United States as National All-Americans of Varsity Spirit in the London New Year’s Day Parade last month. Only the top 12% of cheerleaders and dancers from Varsity Spirit camps earn the chance to participate in a performance of this caliber.
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