State champ Conant cheerleaders to be feted by indoor football champs
They're billing the Chicago Slaughter indoor football team's season opener on Saturday, Feb. 27, as "Championship Night at the Sears Centre,"
The Slaughter will honor the state champion cheerleaders from Conant High School before and at halftime of the team's 2010 opener.
The Slaughter won its league championship last year and have since switched leagues. This will be the team's first season in the Indoor Football League.
Meanwhile, the Conant Cougars, hailing from Hoffman Estates, took home first place in the IHSA cheerleading finals, large school division, on Feb. 6.
Linda Scheck, the Hoffman Estates tourism and business retention coordinator, said the Slaughter asked Hoffman Estates officials for suggestions on how to reward members of the community in the midst of the difficult recession.
They decided it made sense to invite the girls from Conant for a halftime ceremony.
"We want to ... have the whole community come out and celebrate the champions at Conant and the Slaughter," Scheck said. "I loved that idea."
The cheerleading team will likely come out onto the field during halftime. Details are still being ironed out if they will perform a routine.
"We just want to recognize all the hard work they put into becoming state champions," said Jon Zaley, the Slaughter's director of ticket sales.
"We're the hometown champions from 2009 and now we have state champions in our Conant cheerleaders, and want to recognize that fact."
Zaley said former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon will be at the game. The opener also features the Slaughter debut of Jarrett Payton, son of Bears great Walter Payton. He'll be wearing No. 34, just like his father.
Scheck credits the efforts of the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation, a charity which helps underprivileged children. The Slaughter and the Foundation have teamed up to raise money, and will host a Texas Hold 'Em Celebrity Poker Challenge on Saturday afternoon at the Sears Centre. Buy-in is $250, and scheduled players include former Bears McMahon, Otis Wilson and Steve McMichael.
Call (847) 310-3199 for more information or visit chicagoslaughter.com.