October 14, 2019 at 12:35AM
Local cheerleading teams came together in Fort Thomas on Sunday to honor the memory of a 13-year-old competitor who died suddenly during a competition earlier this year.Cheer teams gathered in the Highland Heights High School gym for the Lilliana Schalck One Up to celebrate the life of middle school cheerleader Lilliana Schalck.Lilliana died suddenly from strep throat while at a cheerleading competition in February. Her father, Dan Schlack, said he is grateful for the support he and his family have always felt from this community."It does take a village, and I couldn't have picked a better village to bring her up in," Dan Schalck said.Schalck continued on as coach of the Highlands High School co-ed varsity cheerleading squad. He said his work with the team is part of his daughter's legacy."She was one that would help everybody and anything that they needed. And it's just an extension of that to honor how she approached life a lot better than I did," Schalck said.Her teammates said Lilliana's spirit lives on at center stage. The Highland Heights Blue Birds are dedicating this season to the blond dynamo. They said her spirit is smiling with them in every tumble, every jump and every leap.Rosalind Schmidt, of Premier Athletics, said she always believed Schalck was special."I knew from the moment she walked into the gym that she was a kid who wanted to do her best. But what I really liked about Lilliana was that she was a friend to everyone," Schmidt said.For the young competitors, the loss has been heartbreaking, but Skyler Churchill and others on the squad say Lilliana has taught them how to make the most of every day."'Live like Lil' means to just to do your best with no regrets and push yourself to the fullest that you can," Churchill said.Dan Schalck shared the lesson of losing his daughter too soon with other parents. He said his message is simple."Tomorrow is not promised. Hug your kid."Funds raised from Sunday's competition go to support scholarships at Northern Kentucky's Premier Athletics.
Local cheerleading teams came together in Fort Thomas on Sunday to honor the memory of a 13-year-old competitor who died suddenly during a competition earlier this year.
Cheer teams gathered in the Highland Heights High School gym for the Lilliana Schalck One Up to celebrate the life of middle school cheerleader Lilliana Schalck.
Lilliana died suddenly from strep throat while at a cheerleading competition in February. Her father, Dan Schlack, said he is grateful for the support he and his family have always felt from this community.
"It does take a village, and I couldn't have picked a better village to bring her up in," Dan Schalck said.
Schalck continued on as coach of the Highlands High School co-ed varsity cheerleading squad. He said his work with the team is part of his daughter's legacy.
"She was one that would help everybody and anything that they needed. And it's just an extension of that to honor how she approached life a lot better than I did," Schalck said.
Her teammates said Lilliana's spirit lives on at center stage. The Highland Heights Blue Birds are dedicating this season to the blond dynamo. They said her spirit is smiling with them in every tumble, every jump and every leap.
Rosalind Schmidt, of Premier Athletics, said she always believed Schalck was special.
"I knew from the moment she walked into the gym that she was a kid who wanted to do her best. But what I really liked about Lilliana was that she was a friend to everyone," Schmidt said.
For the young competitors, the loss has been heartbreaking, but Skyler Churchill and others on the squad say Lilliana has taught them how to make the most of every day.
"'Live like Lil' means to just to do your best with no regrets and push yourself to the fullest that you can," Churchill said.
Dan Schalck shared the lesson of losing his daughter too soon with other parents.
He said his message is simple.
"Tomorrow is not promised. Hug your kid."
Funds raised from Sunday's competition go to support scholarships at Northern Kentucky's Premier Athletics.
Local cheerleading teams came together in Fort Thomas on Sunday to honor the memory of a 13-year-old competitor who died suddenly during a competition earlier this year.Cheer teams gathered in the Highland Heights High School gym for the Lilliana Schalck One Up to celebrate the life of middle school cheerleader Lilliana Schalck.Lilliana died suddenly from strep throat while at a cheerleading competition in February. Her father, Dan Schlack, said he is grateful for the support he and his family have always felt from this community."It does take a village, and I couldn't have picked a better village to bring her up in," Dan Schalck said.Schalck continued on as coach of the Highlands High School co-ed varsity cheerleading squad. He said his work with the team is part of his daughter's legacy."She was one that would help everybody and anything that they needed. And it's just an extension of that to honor how she approached life a lot better than I did," Schalck said.Her teammates said Lilliana's spirit lives on at center stage. The Highland Heights Blue Birds are dedicating this season to the blond dynamo. They said her spirit is smiling with them in every tumble, every jump and every leap.Rosalind Schmidt, of Premier Athletics, said she always believed Schalck was special."I knew from the moment she walked into the gym that she was a kid who wanted to do her best. But what I really liked about Lilliana was that she was a friend to everyone," Schmidt said.For the young competitors, the loss has been heartbreaking, but Skyler Churchill and others on the squad say Lilliana has taught them how to make the most of every day."'Live like Lil' means to just to do your best with no regrets and push yourself to the fullest that you can," Churchill said.Dan Schalck shared the lesson of losing his daughter too soon with other parents. He said his message is simple."Tomorrow is not promised. Hug your kid."Funds raised from Sunday's competition go to support scholarships at Northern Kentucky's Premier Athletics.
Local cheerleading teams came together in Fort Thomas on Sunday to honor the memory of a 13-year-old competitor who died suddenly during a competition earlier this year.
Cheer teams gathered in the Highland Heights High School gym for the Lilliana Schalck One Up to celebrate the life of middle school cheerleader Lilliana Schalck.
Lilliana died suddenly from strep throat while at a cheerleading competition in February. Her father, Dan Schlack, said he is grateful for the support he and his family have always felt from this community.
"It does take a village, and I couldn't have picked a better village to bring her up in," Dan Schalck said.
Schalck continued on as coach of the Highlands High School co-ed varsity cheerleading squad. He said his work with the team is part of his daughter's legacy.
"She was one that would help everybody and anything that they needed. And it's just an extension of that to honor how she approached life a lot better than I did," Schalck said.
Her teammates said Lilliana's spirit lives on at center stage. The Highland Heights Blue Birds are dedicating this season to the blond dynamo. They said her spirit is smiling with them in every tumble, every jump and every leap.
Rosalind Schmidt, of Premier Athletics, said she always believed Schalck was special.
"I knew from the moment she walked into the gym that she was a kid who wanted to do her best. But what I really liked about Lilliana was that she was a friend to everyone," Schmidt said.
For the young competitors, the loss has been heartbreaking, but Skyler Churchill and others on the squad say Lilliana has taught them how to make the most of every day.
"'Live like Lil' means to just to do your best with no regrets and push yourself to the fullest that you can," Churchill said.
Dan Schalck shared the lesson of losing his daughter too soon with other parents.
He said his message is simple.
"Tomorrow is not promised. Hug your kid."
Funds raised from Sunday's competition go to support scholarships at Northern Kentucky's Premier Athletics.