Two Uniforms. Same Degree of Pride
Weemes a very unique participant in Bronze Boot Run
Mike Brohard
She arose before the sun, a normal occurrence for a member of the Army ROTC on campus. But this day was special.
She put on her uniform, ready to cover the 2-mile stretch assigned to her for the traditional Bronze Boot Run, where cadets from the campuses of Colorado State and Wyoming carry the game ball to and from the border, where there is a ceremony around noon.
But Katelyn Weemes’ day wasn’t anywhere near done. She went back home, her run completed in the dark, put on her other uniform and headed toward the border.
Bubbly and all smiles – as Dawn Burton expects all of her Colorado State cheerleaders to be – Weemes was there to help engage the crowd as the two rival coaches and administrators met, shook hands and then parted ways as the second half of the relay took place.
“It just feels like an honor, just because it’s different being part of this cheer team and having this other part of my life,” she said. “It’s different. A lot of people don’t know about everything I juggle all the time, so it means a lot to me because I put in a lot of work to be part of these organizations and do well in them. It means a lot to be part of this tradition, understand it and then the next day when we cheer at the game and have Ram Walk and getting to see the Apache helicopters fly in and all they do for the military appreciation game, it means a lot to me. It almost feels like a treat that I get to be part of it in very unique ways.”
Now a junior, Weemes – believed to be the only cheerleader to ever take part in the Bronze Boot Run -- will once again run a leg, but her cheer assignment won’t take her back to the border. Instead, she’ll await the ball’s arrival at Moby Arena as she rouses the crowd for the men’s basketball game that night.
The run is of tremendous importance to the ROTC on campus, involving planning well in advance. It is a point of pride for them, knowing the Bronze Boot was worn by one of their own, Lt. Dan Romero, during the Vietnam War. The event will carry even more significance for all of them this year as it will take place on Veteran’s Day. None of this is lost on Weemes. ROTC is a major part of her life now, but she wants to make an active role in the Army her future.
This year, it means more to me because my aspirations in the Army have vastened over this past year. It’s become more of who I am, a part of my identity. When you identify with something, you care more about it.Katelyn Weemes
“I think last year it definitely meant something to me. I understood the weight of it,” she said. “This year, it means more to me because my aspirations in the Army have vastened over this past year. It’s become more of who I am, a part of my identity. When you identify with something, you care more about it.
“That’s a personal goal of mine, to go active duty. My goal and what I want to do is pursue that active duty role. I will be competing for that this summer, and everything I do in this junior year is getting evaluated and there’s a chunk of my evaluation that is from cadre and the professor of military science. He’s actually a Colorado State alumni as well, Lt. Col. Matthew Tillman. That to me also means something. He went to CSU and to see that come full circle and now he’s leading all of us, that’s really admirable.”
To reach her goal, she will compete this summer with around 7,000 cadets nationally at Fort Knox in Kentucky. The largest training event the US military holds, the 38-day training will lead to 3,500 of them being selected for active duty.
It requires a deft touch by Weemes to navigate all of her responsibilities. It requires some give-and-take by her, but also from those who lead her, Burton on the cheer side, MSgt. Garrick Stroud from ROTC.
Her ability to do so and be who she is supposed to be on both sides is admired by both.
“We greatly appreciate her being in our program,” Stroud said. “We always push her to be the athlete first because we have very few DI athletes in our program, and if we do, their commitment is to their team and we develop their leadership twofold, one within our program, and hopefully they’re able to develop it on their teams as well. However, we can continue to promote her through her endeavors on the cheer team. That’s our priority.”
The mix makes sense if one knows Weemes’ background. She was a gymnast and cheerleader at Legacy High School in Highlands Ranch. She was also raised in a military family. Her grandfather was in the Army, her father and brother both Marines.
Being attracted to pursuits which breed and require discipline just seems natural. What she learns from both of her passions translate across the aisle in ways some may not see, but both Stroud and Burton count on the crossover.
“I’ve actually seen it a lot more this year than I have in the past. With this being her third year in both programs, I can see both her mental strength and her physical strength,” Burton said. “Mentally, I can see it in a lot of things which would easily annoy or bother her or shake her spirit in some way on the cheer squad, it kind of rolls off; she doesn’t feed into it. She’s fully juggled these two big worlds she’s trying to navigate through, so maturity has to come into it.
“Physically, she’s a lot stronger. The position she holds in cheer for stunt team is a base, and I tell you right now, that girl can hold it. She’s sometimes the bottom of the pyramid, so now she’s holding two people on top of her. I would not have seen that in her two years ago, and now she’s ready to do it.”
That tracks, considering the workouts. What also tracks is the leadership she brings to both groups.
Her personality, which makes her an ideal cheerleader, also in some ways makes her the perfect leader to other cadets. Weemes says she can be as girlie as anyone, and there’s a place for that in the Army. Her positive attitude also becomes uplifting in a multitude of circumstances.
“I’ve witnessed it in both of our physical training sessions three days of the week early in the morning. We’re getting up early, it’s cold, and getting college kids up at 0530 is a little rough,” Stroud said. “She comes in and she’s motivating her squad, and her junior year, the expectation for her leadership evaluations is greater than the previous two years. She’s tackling that with nothing but positivity and encouragement for others who have difficulty adjusting to our system. She’s been right there saying, ‘hey, we can get through this,’ and I’ve seen her do it in our tactical labs on Thursdays.
“She’s also displayed a tremendous strength, not only in her athletic ability, but also her character as well. She is always looked to by fellow cadets, be they seniors, freshmen or sophomores for encouragement and for that motivation because of who she is.”
Weemes schedule will be a little bit different this year. The CSU ROTC will not run with the ball until after the border meeting at noon, but when her portion is finished, her night is not. She is scheduled to be part of the cheer squad for the men’s portion of a basketball double header, so she’ll see the final stages of the relay.
One of the original relay runners from the inaugural 1992 event, Jason Mumm, will carry the ball from Moby Arena to Canvas Stadium, where Veterans Weekend festivities are planned, including Hall of Fame inductions.
Again, she will put on both uniforms, each of which bring her a tremendous amount of pride.
“The Army uniform represents past, present and future. I take great pride in wearing the uniform and seeing my friends where the uniform, other people in ROTC,” she said. “The past, looking at my dad and my brother, the future. That’s a big part of who I am, and I take a lot of pride in that.
“I take a lot of pride in wearing the CSU uniform too, because cheer has been the best thing that’s happened in my college career. It’s given me a safe place. I love being part of a school; I love CSU. My brother went here, so this was the only school I applied to. I knew I wanted to go to CSU, and I knew I wanted to cheer and that’s what ended up happening, so I take great pride in that uniform. A hundred girls will try out, and only 20 or so get picked. To be chosen to do that for my third year, which means a lot to me. Coach doesn’t just look for the best athlete, she looks for somebody who is going to be a good team player as well.”
Then on Saturday, Weemes will once again be on the sidelines, cheering on the football team and knowing she’s been an incredibly unique participant in one of the grandest traditions on campus.