The Mycenaean

Summer Debnam is currently the JV cheer coach of Leesville Road High School. She has been coaching for 7 years; this is her 5th year at Leesville. She coached at Orange High School for one year and at the School of Science and Math for one year. 

Debnam used to cheer when she was younger, starting when she was 5 years old and did Rec, All-Star, middle school cheer, and high school cheer. At UNC Chapel Hill, she cheered on the all-girls team.

“I started coaching when I was 19 and 20 when I was an undergrad and then I stopped coaching because I lived in DC, and I just couldn’t manage it.  When I moved back to Raleigh I really wanted to coach and then I saw there was an opening at Leesville so then I reached out and then it just worked out,” said Debnam.

“I love coaching JV. I like it because the majority of 9th graders are in our program. So if they are in the program for all 4 years then I get to see them from where they started from after middle school to all the way ‘til they are seniors,” said Debnam

One of Debnam’s favorite parts about coaching is the coaches. “I love the coaching staff; it’s the best part. It can make or break a program” said Debnam.

“I think that the… sports program as a whole is amazing. [It] really brings the school spirit, and I love homecoming and I love all the ways the student section gets involved and I think it’s a really special community,” said Debnam.

Outside of coaching Debnam is working on getting her licenses for school counseling and spending time with family that live close to her. She also likes to do yoga and workout.

“Coach Summer made cheerleading fun by letting us do fun stunts and fun activities when we had free time, she was always very considerate of everyone and what they’re capable of,” said Georgia Lilley, sophomore, who is on the JV cheer team.