COLUMBIA, S.C. — A local Midlands youth cheer team, Cheer Passion, is currently playing host to cheerleaders from Germany for a weeklong cultural exchange.
Kennedy Babb, a 14-year-old member of Cheer Passion, expressed her excitement about the exchange, "It has been beyond amazing. I feel like as they are learning new things we are able to ask questions and learn about the different cultures and that has been amazing."
Kennedy and 15-year-old Lena, one of the cheerleaders from Germany, met just shy of a week ago but already feel a strong bond forming. "Definitely one of the most amazing things I've lived through," Kennedy added.
Five days ago, Lena stepped off the plane from Munich, Germany, and set foot in the Cheer Passion gym, her first gym experience in the United States. "I do cheerleading in Germany and we have an exchange program this year with Cheer Passion, the team Kennedy goes to," Lena explained.
The cheerleading exchange program stemmed from a friendship between Mitch Dropping and Nicole Tesse-Gladden, who remained in touch after Mitch moved to Europe roughly seven years ago.
Nicole, who owns the Cheer Passion gym, explained, "It was just a discussion one day, if we are having the opportunity to visit each other's gym and go to America and go to Germany why not have the opportunity for our athletes as well."
This discussion led to the invitation of 19 German athletes, most of whom had never visited the United States, along with Mitch and his head coach Maria, to journey from Munich, Germany, to Columbia, South Carolina.
While in Columbia, the Cheer Passion athletes practice with and host the German athletes, giving them a taste of life in the Midlands.
Lena enthusiastically shared, "Today I went to school with Kennedy, we have one day at school. The other days I'm here doing cheer or exploring the United States."
Their visit has included traveling to Atlanta, Charleston, and different parts of the Midlands to cheer and explore, providing Lena with insights into American culture.
Kennedy said, "It's been really beneficial and eye-opening. To see from the littlest things to the biggest things, there are so many differences and it's been amazing."
Following this trip, the American Cheer Tour will be going international.
The Cheer Passion team is set to visit Germany for a week in August to experience German cheerleading firsthand.
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