Merrill High School’s cheerleaders are no strangers to building stunts, but last week, they lifted their program’s history in the most literal way possible. Ilagene “Gene” Doehring, the 97-year-old who helped launch the school’s cheerleading team decades ago, relived her dreams to take her place as a flyer.
Back in the 1940s, Merrill High didn’t have cheerleaders. Determined to change that, Doehring and her classmates organized the school’s first squad, designing uniforms by hand and leading their community in a new tradition of school spirit.
“I just thought, why doesn’t Merrill have cheerleaders? Other schools did, and we needed that energy here,” Doehring recalled.
Last week, Doehring’s cheer journey came full circle when Merrill’s current cheer coach, Jena Glazier, and her team visited her at Candlestone Assisted Living. They arrived with a cheer routine and a replica uniform, but it was Doehring’s confidence that stole the show.
“She said, ‘Lift me up,’ and we couldn’t believe it,” Glazier said. “But she was serious, and when we got her in the air, she just lit up. You could tell it was second nature for her.”
Cheer Daily shared Doehring’s story on social media over the weekend, and the response was overwhelming. In just a few days, the video of her stunt had been viewed more than a million times, drawing praise from fans around the world.
“This is what cheerleading is all about—spirit, resilience, and heart,” one comment read. Another added, “Gene just reminded me why I love this sport. She’s incredible.”
For Merrill’s cheer squad, the viral moment underscored the impact of their sport and the legacy left behind by those who came before them.
“When I left, she told me, ‘Without me, there wouldn’t be Merrill cheer,’ and it really hit me,” Glazier said. “Everything we do now started with her determination.”
The Merrill squad walked away from the experience with more than just a video to share. Seeing Doehring’s joy reminded them that cheerleading is about connection, determination, and the people who lift each other up.
“She’s proof that being a cheerleader doesn’t end when you leave the mat,” one cheerleader said. “It stays with you for life.”
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