Rams Cheerleader Headed to Hong Kong
Leading the cheers: Teacher to travel to Asia for performance
By Sylvia Decker
The River Bend Telegraph
December 13, 2011
Former area resident Megan LaTempt, a captain with the Rams cheerleaders, is excited about the group’s journey next month to Hong Kong to perform for the “Year of the Ram.”
LaTempt, who has been a Rams cheerleader since 2009, said she has the opportunity to meet a variety of people as a Rams dancer.
“We are required to do 25 charity events in St. Louis,” LaTempt said. “We had the opportunity to travel to the Hall of Fame game in Ohio, performed at charity events and were asked to perform in January in Hong Kong at the 2012 Celebration of the Year of the Ram.”
LaTempt, a 2003 graduate of Jersey Community High School in Jerseyville, is a special education teacher for the Rockwood School District. She received her degree from Southeast Missouri State University. One event that the cheerleaders performed was for Down syndrome, which was a favorite of the teacher of children with special needs.
“We light up the world,” she said.
Her days are long, with her teaching routine beginning at 7 a.m. On her days of practicing with the other cheerleaders, workout does not end until 10 p.m. Game day is challenging as well.
“The Rams is more of a dance organization,” LaTempt said. “We basically dance on the sidelines for four quarters. It is a workout on game day. We get there at 7:30 for the noon game. We are going over routines, and for a half hour we are signing autographs.”
She said the first time she saw the Rams cheerleaders was when she was a dancer at the Hawaii Pro Bowl.
“I auditioned in St. Louis when I was in high school and was selected to travel to Hawaii and be a part of the half-time production. At the Pro Bowl they had two [sic] cheerleaders from each NFL team represented, and at the moment (I was 14 years old) I told myself that one day I wanted to be an NFL cheerleader.”
LaTempt said she was introduced to dance at Parish School of the Performing Arts in Jerseyville.
“I’ve been dancing since I was 8 years old. I was a Southeast Sundancer for three years. I was not ready to give up dance.”
Always athletic, LaTempt said she broke a record in track at her high school. She said in track she was doing hurdles and in dance she is doing leaps and jumps. As a Rams cheerleader captain, she leads a group of cheerleaders, making calls from the sidelines. There are four different groups, one in each corner of the stadium, each with a captain.
“It’s the best experience of my life. The last home game is in January, New Year’s Day.”
The daughter of Bob and Becky LaTempt of Godfrey, she said her parents have season tickets and are faithful fans.
LaTempt, who is accustomed to being a leader, said she supervises seven teachers in her role as an educator. She will be taking an even bigger step in August when she marries Dustin Kueker, a teacher in the Ste. Genevieve School District. The couple will wed Aug. 4 in Alton.
“He is amazing, so supportive with me.”
LaTempt said she feels like she has three jobs. She is used to being busy.
“It’s like I have three full-time jobs: teacher, the Rams and making wedding plans,” she said. “I feel like I’ve done all three successfully. I can’t wait for Aug. 4.”
Read more: http://www.thetelegraph.com/articles/latempt-63244-rams-cheerleaders.html#ixzz1gWe4Wfmj
