By: Lani Hansen, Senior Reporter
OKMULGEE, Oklahoma– Muscogee citizen LynDee Hammer signed on with Oklahoma Baptist University Cheer team for the 2021-2022 season.
Hammer is the daughter of Sunny and Jeremy Hammer of Tahlequah, OK. She graduated from Tahlequah-Sequoyah High School in May. Hammer was on the Sequoyah varsity cheer team all four years of high school. She was a three-time most outstanding cheerleader and upcoming leader.
Hammer has been cheering since middle school, and when she got into high school she knew becoming a cheerleader was a goal. Her passion for cheer kept her close to her dad, who stood on the sidelines as one of the football coaches. As a high school cheerleader, she was able to cheer for her younger brother when he joined high school sports.
Cheering in high school was cut short one year for Hammer, as the Sequoyah athletics program did not want their students involved in any sports activities due to the pandemic. Hammer was unable to enjoy being on the cheer team her senior year because of the virus.
“I missed getting to cheer with my dad on the sidelines because he coached football, and I missed cheering for my brother,” Hammer said. “Also, I was going to be captain this year for the team so I missed that opportunity. “
During her senior year, Hammer joined a competitive cheer squad to continue honing her skills. She was with the Okie Elite Senior Nebula out of Muskogee, OK. This competitive cheer team went to competition from January to May. Her last competition in May was in Galveston, TX where they placed third.
Hammer will be joining the OBU Bison cheer team in the fall. She is looking forward to the gospel atmosphere, the relationship she tends to build with her teammates through Christ and the home-feeling of campus.
“I went to a recruitment day there with the team and it had already felt so welcoming, I’m just glad to be a part of that,” Hammer said.
Aside from cheering, Hammer will also be studying and she plans to get her degree in Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She wanted to thank her parents, her coaches and those who supported her in everything she has accomplished.