Cheer coach to be absent for basketball season

This December, the cheer team is expected to welcome a new member: the coach’s newly born son.

Dominique Davidson, who has coached the cheer team since early 2015, will be starting a maternity leave on Dec. 17, after football season, and she will return on Feb. 1.

After having over four coaches come and leave them without staying for so long as a 12 months in the last couple years, the girls are a bit nervous about what the team will do without her.

“We are really excited for Coach Dominique to have her baby,” junior Taryn Frank said. “She seems ready about the new experience, but we are also concerned about who will take over as coach when she’s gone.”

This is a concern that the girls have had to deal with for several years. Last year, the team was without a coach for several months during basketball season; consequently, the senior cheerleaders took charge and created halftime routines and rally performances while attendance secretary Julia Peck or principal Paul Robinson supervised.

Furthermore, there will be no competition season this year for the team. December to February is a major period of competition season that requires the presence of a coach. In addition, the team is much smaller than previous years, consisting of only 18 members, barely enough for four stunt groups.

Nevertheless, the team will still cheer at basketball games throughout the season. Helping coach during Davidson’s absence will be Class of 2015 alumna Jessica Uong, a current San Jose State freshman, plans on attending games to watch the team perform and give feedback, but she will be unable to attend practices. She may also assist the team with making music mixes or dances if her schedule permits it.