And the Goodness Continues ....

In my post immediately previous to this, I told you all about Megan Bomgaars, who has Down Syndrome and is a cheerleader at Evergreen High School. Well, the cheerleading team competed in the Jefferson County League Tournament Wednesday at Columbine High School, Megan included. :)

JEFFERSON COUNTY – The Evergreen High School cheerleaders asked that their teammate with Down Syndrome be allowed to compete at the tournament level rather than sit things out. She ended up getting the biggest cheer of the night.

Megan Bomgaars is a freshman on the Evergreen cheer squad. Her coach, Tammy Dufford, says the Colorado High School Sports Association told her Bomgaars is the first cheerleader with Down Syndrome to compete in a local mainstream competition.

At the Jeffco Spirit Invitational at Columbine High School on Wednesday, Megan was front and center.

Midway through the Evergreen routine, when other cheerleaders lifted Megan to the top of their formation, the crowd exploded with loud applause.

"It was amazing," Dufford said afterward. "Just amazing."

"I love this place," she said.

Bomgaars is a smiling and enthusiastic face on the football sidelines, but sometimes struggles to keep pace with her teammates quick moves and rapid cheers.

Her mother offered to have Megan sit out the competitive portion of the season in case judges penalized the team for Megan's technical miscues.

The team wouldn't have it.

"We could get graded off if she's a little bit off on her dance," said cheerleader Stephanie Dufford. "But we'd rather have her on the squad and get a lesser score than not have her at all." Immediately following the team's performance, Dufford scrambled over to the judges table.

A huge smile broke out on her face.

"No technical deductions," she said. "Not one."

At the end of the night, the judges awarded first place to Columbine. Bear Creek was runner-up.

Anyone in the stands watching, anyone who heard that one particular cheer rise up, knew they had seen other winners as well.

(from 9News.com)

Oh man ..... this story gives me goosebumps and brings tears to my eyes. It's just an amazing feel-good story, but even more so because it's true, and because those girls exemplify the very qualities we, as parents, always try to instill in our children, hoping they will hold them close and put them into practice in their daily lives. Their families must be so proud of them! I know I am, and I don't even know them!

WAY TO GO, EVERGREEN HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADERS!!!!!

Evergreen High School Cheerleaders