Lincoln, Nebraska… Campion Academy and Mile High Academy are long-standing sports rivals, but at the recent Union College soccer and volleyball tournament, they decided to support each other’s teams.
Before the tournament, Campion volleyball coach Kelsey Cate encouraged her team to cheer on their sister school when they could. Ashley Halvorson, a senior volleyball player at Campion, then made a sign that read “Colorado Proud” so that the volleyball team could cheer on Mile High when they didn’t have a game. This led to both schools showing up to each other’s games to hold up the sign to cheer each other on and give high fives and hugs after the game.
Delanie Kamarad, a senior captain on the Campion volleyball team, reflected, “It felt empowering to cheer on Mile High. Not only did it make us feel good about ourselves, but I think that people on their team paid attention. One of the moms of the players came up to us afterwards and said, ‘Thank you so much. We really appreciate you guys and this means a lot to us.’”
Diane Harris, RMC associate superintendent of education, and a parent of a Mile High volleyball player, commented, that “our MHA girls were disappointed when they lost to Forest Lake and the CA girls were quick to encourage and pray with the team when the game was over. Also, the CA boy’s soccer team were our cheerleaders since both MHA soccer and volleyball teams were scheduled at the same time. They were louder and more positive than any other school! Everyone played so well and I was proud of the character and CHERISH team spirit I saw in both our schools.”
—Ashley Herber, Student Editor at Campion Academy; photos by Union College (sign) and Diane Harris
