Fourteen Seymour High School cheerleaders recently traveled to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington for a unique experience.

During the day Jan. 6, the squad had an opportunity to work on a dance routine with IU cheerleaders.

Then that night during the men’s basketball game against Ohio State, the Seymour cheerleaders and others who participated in the clinic performed at halftime.

Coach Kennedi Brown said she signed up for the Spirit Day event through Varsity Spirit LLC, which partnered with the IU cheerleaders.

“It’s basically just to get cheerleaders from any age from around Indiana to come and be able to work with IU cheerleaders and work with Varsity,” she said.

According to varsity.com, Varsity Spirit offers cheerleading, dance team and performing arts apparel along with educational camps and competitions, and it continues to be the global leader in growing cheerleading’s influence and profile, impacting more than a million athletes each year.

Brown said her squad had a meet-and-greet session with the IU cheerleaders before all of the cheerleaders came together to practice the routine they would be performing that night. Each squad had learned the routine on their own before arriving.

Brown estimated the large group consisted of about 50 cheerleaders. She said there was supposed to be 100 more, but the game on the original date for Spirit Day was canceled, and those cheerleaders weren’t able to make it on the rescheduled date.

Parents were able to buy tickets to the game, which gave them a chance to sit in the same section together and watch the halftime performance.

The Seymour cheerleaders are used to cheering and performing at Owls football and basketball games, but Spirit Day gave them something different to do.

“They were excited just to be able to go to an IU game all together and to be able to perform in front of a lot of people,” Brown said of her cheerleaders. “They just thought it would be good exposure to be performing in front of the crowd and the IU cheerleaders and to be able to interact with them.”

She said it was a positive experience for the girls.

“Getting to watch the IU cheerleaders and all of the work they put in, basically, I am just hoping that they were able to see a glimpse of what it’s like to be a college athlete,” Brown said.

Junior Maddy Ramp said she enjoyed the experience.

“The IU cheerleaders are so helpful and great with answering questions and fixing problems when needed,” she said. “It was absolutely an amazing experience working with them and performing at IU. I’ve always dreamed of being an IU cheerleader, and this got me a taste of what it was like, and I loved it.”

As a bonus, IU defeated Ohio State in the Big Ten Conference game 67-51 to improve to 11-3 on the season.

The Owls cheerleaders will continue to cheer and perform at home basketball games, and they also will be leading a winter clinic for youth and giving them an opportunity to perform at halftime of the Feb. 12 boys basketball game.

If you go 

What: Winter youth cheerleading clinic and performance

When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 12 for the clinic and halftime of the Seymour boys basketball varsity game that night for the performance (varsity game will start around 7:30 p.m.)

Where: Clinic at the Seymour High School commons and game at the Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium

Who: Students in kindergarten through sixth grade will work with Seymour High School cheerleaders

Cost: $20 (includes T-shirt and game entry; parents will have to purchase a game ticket)

Register: seymourcamps.ryzerevents.com/cheerleading.cfm

What to bring: Students should wear purple or black shorts/athletic pants, tennis shoes and a water bottle; the T-shirt will be given to the students the day of the clinic for them to wear at the game

Information: Visit facebook.com/seymourowlscheerleading or email [email protected]