An athlete from the Logan County Braves Special Olympics Cheerleading Team is headed to the 2022 USA Games.
In a surprise reveal Tuesday evening, Sheena Braun learned she has been chosen as a cheerleader for Team Ohio to compete and perform at next summer’s National Special Olympics USA Games in Florida.
Braun’s family members, her coach Emily Stone from Dance Fuzion, Special Olympics team members Sara Stierhoff and Ty Ferguson, along with many members of the Indian Lake High School Cheer squad gave her the good news. Braun reacted by cheering and dancing.
“I’m excited, I’m ready!” she told Logan County Special Olympics Coordinator Rose Canter.
Canter explained to be chosen for the USA games, athletes had to be part of a team that scored first or second place in the most recent state competition in their sport. After practicing with and learning a routine created by the ILHS Cheerleaders, the Logan Braves Cheerleading Team earned second place in the Ohio Special Olympic Cheerleading Competition during February of 2020 at Bowling Green State University.
“We actually had six athletes, two cheerleaders and four track and field athletes that were sent in to be nominated and we only had one, and that was Sheena Braun, who was chosen to represent Team Ohio at the USA Games. The last time we had an athlete chosen was in 2010, so it’s been 11 years,” Canter said.
In 2010, DJ Casey was selected to represent Team Ohio in Special Olympics Softball.
To prepare, Sheena will continue to practice at Dance Fuzion in Bellefontaine with her Logan County Braves Cheer Team. She will also go to training with other Team Ohio cheerleaders and coaches this fall and next spring. She will then travel to Orlando, Florida a year from now to compete and cheer for other athletes at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.
The Logan County Braves will be accepting donations to help cover the cost of Braun’s training and travel. Donations may be sent to:Logan County Board of DD Foundation, c/o Logan County Braves Special Olympics-Sheena Braun, P.O. Box 710, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311