By Lisa D. Welsh
www.CHEERMaD.com
Maryland Marlins Tori and Cheer Athletics Kalee at The Majors
The fourth submission chosen for the Certifiably CHEERMaD contest is actually about two CHEERMaDs who formed a special cheer mom relationship 10 years ago when their daughters started Allstars.
Laura Dougherty and Lisa Garvin met at Capital Cheer in Burke, VA. They didn’t know it at the time but cheerleading was about to play a huge part of their lives. According to Laura’s daughter Tori Krugh, “they do everything to support (my) and Kalee Garvin’s cheer obsession.”
Their daughters no longer cheer for the same teams: Tori cheers for Maryland Marlins and Kalee for Cheer Athletics, but the friendships endure.
As finalists, the cheer moms have won a complete set of The CHEERMaD Collection jewelry; necklace, bracelet and earrings; a CHEERMaD tote and T-shirt. Laura and Lisa are now eligible for the First Prize of one of three $250 Travel Vouchers; if chosen as one of the three First Prizes, they are eligible for the Grand Prize of The Cheer Cruise and Beach Camp.
Once a finalist has been selected, all submissions are re-entered into the contest~The earlier you enter, the more opportunities you have to win!
The Fifth of six (6) Finalists will be chosen on February 15 and Sixth of six (6) Finalists will be chosen on March 1.
Three (3) First Place Winners will be announced on March 15. Grand Prize winner will be announced the weekend of The Cheerleading Worlds, April 25-30 in a live CHEERMaD blog and on CHEERXm1.com. More details on CONTEST page.
Laura and Lisa, Parent Team 2009
My name is Tori Krugh, a current member of Maryland Marlins Riptide and Tsunami. I am writing to recommend that two of my favorite cheer moms be recognized because they definitely fit the definition of being CHEERMaD.
About 10 years ago, my mom, Laura Dougherty, and Lisa Garvin met at Capital Cheer in Burke, VA. They spend countless hours from the beginning of the season not only with the normal tasks of a cheer mom preparing their own daughters for the mat but everyone else as well. They run car pools for other athletes, race around finding those forgotten uniform pieces for competition, helping with make up and hair, making cheer bows, designing door signs and bag tags, filling goody bags and more.
This is their last cheer year together as Kalee is graduating. Somehow even after we both graduate I don’t think their cheer madness will end.
Our moms joke that they spend all the time together or over the phone solving cheer problems. Their joke is a reality though. They have amazing ideas that are often times great solutions to many of the day-to-day problems faced by cheerleaders, coaches and gym owners.
After leaving Capital, our moms followed our hearts to All Star Legacy. It was there that their cheer madness really became more evident. They joined forces with the parent/athlete booster club as very active officers. They scheduled auctions, community service events, pep rallies for over 500 athletes, picture days, movie shoot productions. They fundraise for other cheerleaders to take that floor beside us on the mat. They work concessions to help reduce our cheer bills.
Laura and Tori
They also became team parents that served as the coaches right hand communicating with parents and athletes, making sure that entire teams were game day ready and arranging team celebrations. It wasn’t long (before) they both became part of the All Star Legacy staff. Keep in mind, through it all they had other children, full-time jobs and still managed to be Kalee and my number one fans!
Just when you thought the madness was enough…our moms joined the All Star Legacy Parent Team. Lisa and my mom have competed three consecutive years – winning national championships each time at Battle at the Capital. There weren’t enough hours in the day to add yet another block of time to their schedules to practice but they made it happen. Sometimes remaining in the gym until as late midnight to polish their own routine. From sun up to sun down, cheerleading is on their mind.
Kalee and I supported their madness. It was amazing watching them go out on to the floor to perform. But it also made them realize to some extent what Kalee and I do to prepare for the blue mat.
Kalee with Cheer Athletics Panthers
The hardest moment was saying goodbye to the Garvins in January 2010. Kalee’s dad was relocated to a new position in Texas. Our moms wouldn’t be partners in crime in Virginia anymore. But even separated by hundreds of miles and cheer gyms apart they still are simply CHEERMaD. They still create door signs, design T-shirts and swap ideas for both Cheer Athletics and Maryland Marlins.
It has been a difficult adjustment but they made it work. Now we room with one another when our competition schedule aligns in Dallas, Atlanta and at Cheerleading Worlds.
Tori and Maryland Tsunamis
These ladies support both programs loud and proud. For example, both mine and Kalee’s teams were invited to compete at the Majors but Lisa was unable to attend Majors with Kalee. My mom and Lisa “watched” the team’s perform while talking on the phone and texting as Lisa watched the live feed from home and my mom was in the Hall D. Even though they were apart… they were still together. My mom and I were there to give Kalee that much-needed hug after the Panthers won the All Girl division.
Not only did our moms support our Allstar Cheerleading addiction, they fully joined forces to support our high school teams. They were in the stands at every game and performance. Shuttled us to and from high school practice then raced us to Allstar practices, which were NOT right around the corner because Kalee and I both chose gyms that were 45 minutes to an hour away from our homes. Our moms still made bows, locker tags and anything else that we needed on a whim’s notice.
Our moms are very special ladies who have made cheerleading another extension of our family. Cheerleading has brought our families together. Our moms are full of heart, passion and dedication for the sport of cheerleading and deserve to be officially recognized as being CHEERMaD.
What a great read, Lisa! Just let me know the team colors and if their beads will be cheetah or zebra, and I’ll get going on their custom jewelry!
Pretty exciting!
Jean
Congratulations Lisa! This is so you. From the time Kalee arrived at Cheer Athletics – Lisa has been a huge part in Spirit gifts for the girls and this year, Kalee’s Senior year, Lisa teamed with another Panther mom to make the RED HAIRBOWS the Panthers performed in at Majors – Red as well as the Awesome Hairbow has become a Good Luck color the girls have traded their traditionl Pink for! You are very deserving of the Grand Prize! We are very lucky to have you, Kalee and Reagan!
What a wonderful honor to be recognized by my daughter and cheermad.com! We came home from a fabulous practice to learn that Tori’s entry was selected. This truly brought tears to my eyes and reminded me why we do what we do. Of course, my first phone call was to Lisa. Thank you for recognizing our efforts. See you in Atlanta.
I have had the priviledge of knowing both Lisa and Laura and they are amazing parents and definitely CHEERMaD. I am proud to be their friend and I can attest to their love and dedication to not only their children, but cheer in general. Being a part of the parent team, these two ladies got a whole new perspective of how hard Tori and Kalee work on a daily basis. And those two girls would not be where they are today if it wasn’t for all the immense dedication that theses two ladies have put in as well. I was sad to see Lisa leave Legacy a few years back, and then my dear friend Laura left last year. But it doesn’t matter what gym they are at: All Star Legacy, Capital, Marlins, or Cheer Atlhetic, Lisa and Laura have truly dedicated their lives to cheer. And cheer has not only created bonds for the athletes, but for the parents too. Those relationships are all thanks to cheer.
So proud of my daughter Laura, my granddaughter Victoria and their friends Lisa and Kaylee.
Two of the most amazing cheer moms I’ve ever known. There wasn’t anything they didn’t do for our kids or our gym. It’s a wonderful story Tori, your words are beautiful!! We miss you all so much at ASL! Cheers! and Best of Luck to you ALL! <3 Much Love! <3
Wow, what a wonderful, heartfelt, & detailed entry! As a Cheer Mom myself, we often go though the motions because we love our children and want to support them. It’s brings joy to my heart to see in words that our children are watching. Tori & Kalee, I’m so proud of your achievements. Laura & Lisa, I’m truly blessed to have benefited from all your hard work over the years. Love you, miss you, see you in Orlando!
I have had the honor to meet all involved in this article, they are hard working and very dedicated. This is a wonderful tribute to all four!
Congratulations Ladies! The bond of CheerMaDs is unbreakable. Best of Luck with the rest of the contest!!
I am a friend of Tori’s and I am astounded at Ms. Dougherty’s help outside of school. I say this because it amazes me how well she juggles supporting her daughter’s passion for cheer, as well as contributing to make our school a better place. Not only does Ms. Dougherty express her love for her daughter by being CheerMaD, she is a sponsor of two successful clubs at Lake Braddock. She has helped me greatly in jump-starting my club, Do Something, and has comforted me along the way. This article made me realize how much she does outside of school for Tori. It’s truly awesome. What a cheer mom!