Brookings-based KCK Wildfire teams earn bids, compete at D2 Summit

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BROOKINGS — For the first time in program history, all four of KCK Wildfire’s eligible teams qualified for the D2 Summit Championship in Orlando, Florida. The four teams, which are from Brookings, joined all star cheerleading programs from across the U.S. as they traveled to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World May 5-7 to compete.

The senior level 4.2 team Shine earnned an at-large bid at the Nation’s Choice competition in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, held December 10-11. They were soon joined by Steel, a senior coed level 4 team, who earned another at-large bid at the American Heartland competition held in Sioux City January 27-28.

Team Ice, a junior level 2 team, and Sapphire, a junior coed level 3 team, earned wild card bids at the National Cheerleaders Association competition in Minneapolis on February 4.

These teams are coached by Julia Anderson, Kacie Intermill, Kalista King, Jordyn Lucas, Rebecca Marshall and Keatyn Moad.

“As a coach it’s always exciting when your teams succeed throughout the season and it was especially exciting this year when all four of our eligible teams earned a bid to the biggest post season event,” said Intermill. “These athletes have worked so hard and put in many extra post season practice hours, and it paid off by ending with their best performances.

“That’s the most we can ask for and I am so proud of them. Since I’ve been a coach at Wildfire for so long I’ve had the privilege of coaching many of these athletes at different points in their cheer careers and it’s awesome to see how far they’ve come.”

Team Steel advanced to the D2 Summit finals on May 7, where they earned an 11th place finish out of all senior coed level 4 teams in the nation.

“We went into the D2 Summit with the goal that our teams would perform well but knew we had an uphill battle based on our team size and how that would translate on the scoresheet,” said gym co-owner Casie King. “Not only did every team have their best performances of the season, they also outscored teams that we have never been able to beat. For our senior coed 4 team to not only make the finals but then to also jump ahead three spots to take home eleventh place, it was a huge honor and something that we are very proud of.”

The D2 Summit Championship was founded by Varsity All Star in 2015, exclusively for small gym divisions in all star cheerleading. These are defined as having one gym location and 125 athletes or less registered in a gym’s cheer program at the time of competition. This year’s event hosted over 1,200 teams and nearly 15,000 athletes, with more than 25,000 spectators.

“We are thrilled about the traditions that have developed as a result of the D2 Summit, and having created a world stage where athletes and teams can celebrate their hard work, dedication, and talent,” said John Newby, Executive VP and General Manager of Varsity All Star. “The athletes, gym owners, and coaches spend countless hours preparing for these memorable moments in time, and the Walt Disney World® Resort is the perfect backdrop to commemorate their season, together, in a prestigious, celebratory, and competitive way.”

For more information on The D2 Summit Championship, please visit varsity.com. Varsity Spirit live streamed the championship on Varsity TV, a website dedicated to exclusive live coverage and video libraries of Varsity Spirit cheer and dance competitions. Videos of the routines are available for fans who were otherwise unable to attend, and full results listings are available on Varsity TV.