There are 70+ clubs at DGS and space for them to practice is running low. One of the clubs that involves needing practice spaces is the DGS steppers.

The co-captains of the steppers team are Senior Ky’m Young, Junior Sanai Lashley, and Sophomore Janiyah McClendon. Lashley shares some of the spaces the steppers have had to practice in.

“For the first semester we practice in the C-wing hallways, but in the second semester the track team needs that space, so we go into the old testing center, in E223,” Lashley said.

A practice space isn’t secure even if a team or club is already there. The steppers have had to relocate in the middle of their practice.

“We were in the middle of practice and the track team came and we had to move to the cafeteria,” Lashley said.

Like other DGS sports and clubs, the steppers need practice to improve their routine.

“I think it’s unfair because we do just as much as any other sport. We practice, we condition, we compete and etcetera, yet we’re only considered a club,” said Lashley.

Lashley also acknowledges other students’ questions.

“I know some students question why we aren’t treated as a sport and why we don’t have our own designated space,” says Lashley.

McClendon also shares her experience while practicing on the steppers.

“We do a good amount for this school. And the school loves us, so for us not to have a space that is just for us is kind of unfair,” says McClendon.

Track season seems to be a big factor with the relocation of practice for the steppers.

“The only time we have relocated is during track season,” says McClendon.

Some of the steppers have even thought of solutions to fix the problem of limited areas to practice in.

“We could at least use those detention rooms no one uses and put some mirrors in there,” McClendon said.

This can also be a problem for other clubs and sports.

“I wouldn’t say it doesn’t affect people to always have to relocate,” McClendon said.

The team hasn’t mentioned the issue of assigned practice space for the steppers to the staff of DGS.

“We’re just grateful that we at least have somewhere to practice,” Lashley said.

McClendon also weighs in on this topic.

“I feel like we don’t really expect them to do anything about it,” Janiyah said.

Junior Malaya Jones on the steppers also shares her take on the situation.

“I think this affects DGS as a whole because the feeling of not being included is becoming prominent, not only in the steppers but also in other clubs,” Jones said.

Jones also feels the treatment steppers receive is puzzling.

“I feel like the amount of praise and recognition that we get from the students, staff members, and even the parents shows how we have an impact and that we should be taken more seriously,” Jones said.

The DGS cheer team is also a sport that practices regularly to keep up with their routine and technique. DGS Varsity cheer coach Shannon Lahey speaks on her circumstances regarding her teams practice.

Because practice spaces are so limited, varsity and junior varsity teams will usually practice together.

“I would say 90 percent of our practices are with the varsity and the JV together,” Lahey said.

Lahey explains the battle for space in the gyms during the winter season with other sports teams.

“Myself, Mr. Miller who is the varsity basketball coach and Ms. Long, who is the girls varsity basketball coach, we sit down and we come up with a schedule because it’s so hard to find space,” Lahey said.

Like many sports, cheer takes a lot of time and there is always something to be worked on. Lahey talks about the hard work put into practice.

“You’re always touching on tumbling, jumps, stunts hopefully, motions, so there’s a lot to cover in a two hour time,” Lahey said.

Lahey states that the treatment other extracurricular activities receive is confusing.

“I do think that it is an issue that certain clubs or other sports teams don’t necessarily have a designated space at a designated time,” Lahey says.

Currently, the JV and varsity cheer teams practice together in the small gym.

The steppers, however, are currently practicing in the C-Wing hallways.