Dexter, Me--- If you have been to a basketball game at Dexter high school, you have seen the smile of David McKusick. On Saturday afternoon it will be his Dexter cheerleading teammates that will be putting that smile on McKusick's face.
McKusick was a huge part in Dexter claiming the Eastern Maine regional championship on January 28th. Four days later the cheerleaders were shocked on the sidelines during a Dexter girls basketball game against Orono.
The cheering squad found out that day that McKusick was at the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor getting treated for an infection in his heart.
"It started out pretty solemn. The night they figured out he would not be returning to the team, we didn't even cheer that night. They just didn't feel like they were going to make it through," Dexter coach Kacie Ladd said. "The next day they realized, they have to make it through. That is what David would want. That is what they want to do for David. They want to show David they can make it through. That first night was very tough."
For Danielle Mower it was much more than worrying about a teammate.
"I have known David since I could walk. His mom and my mom have been pretty good friends. I grew up with David. It is pretty hard on everyone," Mower said. "It was a big shock. I was pretty stressed out for a while. We came together as a team and are doing pretty good now."
McKusick returned home from the hospital on Thursday and was home resting on Thursday evening. David's mother, Cheryl McKusick said in a Bangor daily news article that David will likely be on antibiotics for several weeks. David is expected to require surgery to replace a valve in his heart.
David is expected to be in uniform when his teammates perform at the state championship competition at the Augusta civic center on Saturday afternoon. That will be emotional for Harley Ponte and the rest of the Tigers.
"I have known David since I came to Dexter, in the 6th grade. For six years, since we starting cheer, David has been back," Ponte said. "I will breakdown. I will be looking at him in the crowd. We are going to have to think about him. We are going to have to pull together."
The Tigers have received support from rival class C cheering squads.
"We got a lot of support from Central, Orono and Houlton," Mower said. "Those are our biggest rivals. It was nice to put that aside and show some support for us."
The Tigers boys and girls basketball team's played their regular season finale's on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The cheerleaders did fund raising before and during each of those games. Before the boys game on Wednesday, Cheryl McKusick was given a rose.
"I got very emotional when David's mom got her rose," Ponte said. "That is when a lot of us got a little teary eyed. Just walking into the gym and seeing everyone in red made you tear up."
On Saturday, the Tigers will be missing three members that helped them claim the Eastern Maine championship. Ladd had to switch some things up due to the team members dropping from 14 to 11. No matter what happens this group has shown in the last 10 days why they are a championship team.
"In the matter of three days, we lost one individual on Tuesday, we lost David on Wednesday and another individual due to injury on Thursday," Ladd said. "Not only did we lose a key part in David but we lost two others. Our team numbers dropped from 14 to 11. I decided to make it into two stunt groups. We are trying to do the same routine but we are taking it down a stunt now."
Ponte added,"My hope is that we can pull it out. With two stunt groups that is going to be a little difficult. With the talent we have, if we go and put ourselves together we are going to have a chance."
The Class C and B competition will begin at 2:30 PM on Saturday. Ladd is looking forward to her team finishing with a strong performance and showing the state how they have come together through a tough situation.
"My hopes is for them to do the best they can do. To pull out the best performance they can despite all the setbacks they have had," Ladd said. "They have already shown me in the last week how they can come together as a team. I just want to have that final performance where everyone can see how they have done and fared in the week."
Anyone wishing to support the McKusicks can send donations to: David McKusick, Dexter Regional High School, 12 Abbott Hill Road, Dexter, ME 04930.
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