LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. — Following the football season, two Lincoln cheerleaders were chosen to represent the Lions as part of the All-CIAA cheerleading. Danielle Holsey (Indianapolis, IN/Arlington) and Toussaint Jordan (Harlem, NY/Aquinas) traveled with coach Desmond Stowe to Durham, N.C. for the affair.

Each team had two representatives, and in a conference as rich in tradition as the CIAA, the occasion marked a landmark moment for Lincoln, as it was their first participation in the gala.

“We got to bond with the girls a lot,” Jordan said.

For LU, it was a learning experience, and even though the girls felt welcomed, part of them felt like outsiders as many of those in attendance already know each other, and bonds of family can only come with time.

On Thursday, Lincoln spent the day learning the “Unity Cheer,” which was performed at the awards banquet Friday, at which Bowie State and Fayetteville State football games were honored prior to the CIAA championship game (Fayetteville State would go on to win that game and reach the NCAA playoffs).

“It was a wonderful experience,” Hosley said. “I'm glad we got chosen. Being up close and personal showed us what it takes to be a CIAA cheerleader.”

They were also appreciative of Stowe, who drove them six hours each way for the trip. He spent the day in clinics with the other coaches. He not only found it a teaching tool but a valuable opportunity to interact with Holsey and Jordan outside of practice and games.

“It was definitely a good thing,” he said. “We found out a lot about each other outside of the athletic environment.”