Some say it’s impossible to be in two places at once, but not for the dance team at FHSU, the Tiger Debs.
When they found out that the Mineral Water Bowl game in Missouri was the same day as the Emporia rivalry basketball game in Hays, it was immediately decided that both teams deserved to have spirit squad support. It didn’t take long for the team to make the decision to split in half and spread the Tiger spirit in two states at once.
Tiger Deb member, junior, Allissa Kearn said, “Our team loves this university and all the athletics so much we wouldn’t dream of leaving the basketball teams with absolutely so support system.”
“Emporia basketball games always bring lots of Emporia fans to Gross Memorial Colosseum and we want to make sure that Tiger spirit is the only thing heard in Hays that day!” adds captain, junior Lauren Solzman.
“The priority of the Tiger Deb dance team is to cheer our athletic teams to victory while entertaining all of our tiger fans, who are essential! We are overjoyed at the opportunity to support Tiger Football at the Bowl Game as well as cheer on Tiger Basketball against Emporia State. These are big shoes to fill, but we are blessed to fill them and so thankful for the opportunity to dance at both games!” says sophomore member, Keele Falkner.
The Tiger Debs perform at home football games, post-season football games, home basketball games, and basketball tournament games ranging most recently from Kansas City to Minnesota, as well as volunteering at various community events. Along with cheering on the athletic teams, they plan on competing in January.
On Saturday, December 5th, the team will split. Early in the morning half of the group will join the cheerleaders and marching band members on a bus to Excelsior Springs, Missouri and the other half will remain in Hays and begin prepping for the Emporia State basketball game. It will be a long crazy day for half going to the Bowl Game, but an experience that wouldn’t be traded for anything. “Nothing compares to the feeling of sharing the field with the band at half-time and cheering on the Tigers to victory. Once I heard we accepted to play at the Mineral Water Bowl, I was filled with so much excitement to be able to support this team and cheer them on one more time. I truly could not of asked for a better experience in my final year as a Tiger Deb!” captain, senior Monica Anderson says.
No matter if there are athletic games happening in Hays, Kansas City, Missouri, Minnesota, or on the Moon, you are sure to find the Tiger Debs there supporting all FHSU teams!