Meet Fruita Monument cheer coach Cynnamon Stengel
FRUITA, Colo. — Cynnamon Stengel is currently in her fifth year as the Head Cheerleading Coach for Fruita Monument High School. As a local Fruita teen, Cynnamon graduated from FMHS and has strong ties to the high school and this community. She says, 鈥淚 took the Head Coach position to help build the characters and morals of the younger generations using my connection of a shared love of the sport鈥ith the intent to create a fun, creative, safe, and hardworking environment for athletes to work on their craft.聽 I have always strived to help these athletes become a stand-up representative for Fruita Monument and our community.鈥�
This season she had a wonderful Assistant Coach, Emily Brewer, and Cynnamon says she has been so lucky to work with a smaller group of girls to really gain closer connections to help move further in our sport. She says that they have had the ability to become more inclusive of all individuals allowing them to create a different dynamic in our team.聽 Cynnamon believes her top priority has always been to help her athletes to聽 鈥渢hrive in academics, school events, and to give them the resources and tools to grow as an individual, even long after their high school career is over.鈥澛� Building habits and character that will carry into their life.
Cheerleading is both a very physically and mentally demanding sport. Though it is a team sport, Cheerleading relies on the individual to be their best physically and mentally, and each person must completely trust each athlete in order to pull together their cheers and stunts. According to Cynnamon, 鈥淚 think this season, we have been able to work on the sport in deeper depths than we have been able to in the past.聽 Their team connection has been unbelievable.鈥澛� Building more than school spirit, this team builds community and friendships.
Unlike other sports, the Cheer season is one of the longest at the high school level as they stay in session throughout the year.聽 Practices for the next academic year begin each May and finishes up at the beginning of March.聽 Typical practices are 2.5 hours after an 8 hour school day and include a dynamic warmup, stretching, conditioning, tumbling skills, stunting skills, and creating routines for all sports and event performances. Their work paid off this season as they performed a great routine at Regional competition and were the Western Colorado Regionals All Girl 5A Champions.
FMHS is lucky to have Cynnamon leading these athletes because she cares more about each person on the Cheer team and loves watching their high school and聽 life accomplishments from the qualities that they develop.聽 Keeping in touch with many of her athletes long after they graduate is very fulfilling for Cynnamon. She is a lady with a huge heart and she says, 鈥淢y heart and loyalty is forever with Fruita Monument.聽 I bleed blue, and will always support the athletes I have been so lucky to be surrounded by: 聽 鈥業t’s great to be a Fruita Monument Wildcat.鈥欌��
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.