Photo Taken by Peyton Mack
The cheerleading team at South Salem High School has started a new chapter. After the departure of longtime coach Melissa Tufteskog, the team is stepping into a fresh era under the guidance of Michelle Demarest, a familiar face on the sidelines. With a blend of excitement and anticipation, students and athletes alike are ready to see what direction the new cheer coach will take the team in.
Demarest started as a gymnast at the age of four in California. When she turned 11 years old, she tore her rotator cuff and could no longer compete. Her middle school offered cheerleading, which opened the doors to her cheerleading world.
Mentoring Students
“The mentoring and strength that I received when I was in high school and junior high is what made me want to get into this, particularly. I like that I can mentor and be an example for the cheerleaders and sometimes they do not have the same life as each other, so some need it more than others,” Damarest said.
Demarest has been an assistant coach at South for the past eight years, this year being her first as head coach. Demarest has been coaching for the past 25 years.
Past Coaching
“I have done lots of different coaching, from rec coaching, which is All Stars, outside of schools. I started off teaching gymnastics and cheerleading with the YMCA in California and then I transferred up here. I was the head gymnastics and cheerleading coach for the Monmouth, Independence and Salem YMCA’s. I did youth for many years. Then I got into doing a couple all star gyms and coached with them for about four years,” Demarest said.
Head Coach for South
Damarest made her debut as head coach this year.
“This was not really my goal, I really enjoyed being an assistant coach and kind of just being on the mat with them and being the one who’s doing all the action and now I am doing the backside of things too which is quite interesting. I am enjoying it,” Demarest said.
Influence From Others
When Demarest was younger, her cheer coach, Jessica, was an influential person in her personal and athletic life. And has shaped the way Demarest coaches today.
“I did not have a great family life, so just having someone that was there to help guide me through different decisions in life, even outside of cheerleading, was really instrumental to my younger self,” Demarest said.
Being a Role Model
Damarest has set a goal to be an inspiration and a role model.
“I think a successful cheer coach is somebody that can be stern with the athletes but also be understanding. I think I have a good balance as far as making it a fun environment and loving community. We are kind of like a family. I think that is a positive thing to implement on a team. But I think specifically with the cheer coach, it is just about making sure that the athletes are having a good time while we are there because we want them to have a good time and be able to give them the correct skill to advance in their sport,” Demarest said.
