Muleskinner

Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: Homecoming 2006

All smiles- Haley Sheriff, University of Central Missouri Mulekicker, performs in Saturday's halftime show with the rest of the dance team.

Three single spins followed by a triple spin in three different rotations is what you might see at the Mulekickers' practice. The squad, usually 15 members, now 18, is practicing for its big performances for homecoming weekend.

Homecoming for the Mulekickers is one of their most important events, but before the girls can get to that point, there are a few tasks they must complete. Mulekicker coach Anne Best holds tryouts in late March or early April for the following school year.

January will be the start of her sixth year as the Kickers' coach, so she knows what she is looking for. Best's basic requirements are that the girls be very technical dancers and have a very outgoing, energetic and crowd-appealing personality.

Appearance is also part of the criteria. The girls are not allowed to have any visible tattoos and they have to take out all piercings for every performance.

Along with Best's requirements, the Athletic Department has some, as well. The girls wanting to tryout must be a full-time student and have at least a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Once the squad is picked, the girls usually vote on a captain and co-captain to lead them. However, this year, those positions were picked by the coach. The girls who make the squad must attend a camp in the summer for three to four days. Time commitment to the Kickers squad is a big issue. The girls have to attend all home games, scheduled away games and any other performances throughout the year.

There are two types of squads within the Mulekickers. There is the regular squad that practices twice a week for three hours, and then there is the competition squad that practices three times a week for three hours, as well. The competition squad competes at least once a year, statewide. Depending on how well they do there determines how far they will go. The goal is always nationals.

"Practices are very helpful because we spend the first hour stretching and increasing our flexibility," said Tina Miller, freshman.

The squad performs three types of routines. They have the Fight Song, Jazz combinations and Hip-Hop combinations. Choreographers vary by routine.

Continued...

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