OHS senior, Ariel Altheide, will participate in the 49th Annual Iowa Shrine Bowl on Saturday, July 24 at the UNI Dome.
Altheide was encouraged to try out for the Shrine Bowl by head cheerleading coach, Mia Calcaterra. For the tryout, she was expected to learn a dance, cheer, her best jump, and a double jump of her choice. The tryout was recorded many times because everytime she was close to getting it perfect, she would laugh or just freeze up, she shared.
One of the requirements to participate in the Shrine Bowl is fundraising. She raised $800 by acquiring sponsors and selling tickets to the Shrine Bowl game. While some of the funds go towards her expenses, the remaining $300 is donated to the Shriners Children Hospital. She is very excited to attend the Shrine Bowl and represent OHS.
The Iowa Shrine Bowl Game is an all-star football game between selected pre-college football athletes on each side of a north-south dividing line in Iowa.
"Ariel is a great kid and is devoted to the hardwork necessary to be an ambassador for Ottumwa cheerleading," said Alair Gregory, an OHS social studies teacher.