Class for special needs kids has something to cheer about

Lisa Dennis of South Elgin brought her daughter Jillian to the first session Saturday of the Wildcats program at Cheer Alliance in St. Charles.

"Chronologically, she's 6, but developmentally she's 4," Dennis said. "And she loves music and she loves to dance. We thought she was ready."

Jillian joined several other girls for her first class in basic cheerleading, and returned to the cheers of her parents and older sister and brother when the class was over.

Coach Annette Pritz of Geneva led Jillian and the others in jogging, hopping and jumping in the spacious gym. The girls took turns hopping across a trampoline and received instruction in jumping high and bringing their knees up in a classic cheerleading pose.

"Look at Bridget," Pritz tells her class as she has returning student Bridget Van Petten 10, of St. Charles, demonstrate a move.

It is the third season of the Wildcats program, offered free to special needs children. Cheer Alliance owner Kellie Varga founded the program when she was a coach.

"I felt this was a sport in which children with intellectual disabilities could participate," Varga said. "And I knew it was something we needed in our area."

Varga believes it is the only program of its kind in the region, although she said that there are about 160 special needs cheer teams in the U.S. and Canada.

"I love it," said Pritz, who is in her second year of coaching special needs children. "The kids are so excited to do things that others take for granted."

Pritz believes the program can teach the children coordination, confidence and socialization, and Jeff Archbold of Geneva agrees. He brought his daughter Brianna, 8, back for her second year.

"It was an awesome program for her," Archbold said. "She learned about listening to instructions and doing something independently. It built her confidence and helped her acclimate to other people with special needs."

Saturday was just the beginning. The girls will get uniforms, also free of charge, and learn a choreographed routine to perform at a March 1 competition in Chicago. Practices will include cheering, tumbling and stunting.

Lisa Dennis was pleased with the experience of the first class for Jillian, who has Down syndrome.

"They (children with Down syndrome) are not given the credit they deserve," Dennis said. "They move at their own pace. It doesn't come naturally; they have to be taught. But they can do what we do. If the world is willing to listen, they have an awful lot to teach us."

Children are still being accepted for the Saturday classes. Visit cheer-alliance.com.