SANDPOINT — Realizing there were limited opportunities for local competitive cheerleaders to shine year-round, Sandpoint’s Lisa Kedish decided to create the Sandpoint Sparks Elite, and fulfilled her lifelong dream of starting a cheer program in doing so.

Lisa is not just the Sandpoint Sparks Elite head coach, but also the president and owner of the non-profit organization. Cheer has always been a big part of her life — she cheered in high school, in college, as an adult, and even helped run an all-star program in Chico, Calif. All-in-all, she has over 20-plus years of experience in the sport of cheerleading.

“My goal with this program is to bring in and create physically and mentally strong athletes,” Lisa Kedish said. “I want it to be an affordable and safe place for kids to learn the skills of cheerleading and realize what it can bring to their future. Cheerleading isn’t just a silly, little sport, it strains you in all sorts of ways on and off the mat.”

Lisa’s husband, Eric Kedish, who was born and raised in Sandpoint and is now retired from the Air Force after 20 years of service, said he is so happy to finally be able to support Lisa in her endeavors after she supported his career for so long.

“I met Lisa back in 2007, way back when I was deployed,” Eric Kedish, who helps run the Sandpoint Sparks, said. “She has talked about having her own cheer program since before that. This is a lifelong goal, a dream come true, and I want to make sure I can support her and give her as much free time as possible.”

Lisa has coached for many youth programs and high schools before and even coached at Sandpoint High, but owning her own program was always her ultimate goal.

“It’s nice to be able to set my own schedule and provide a place where I know the kids will be taken care of,” Lisa Kedish said. “Working for a school or an organization, you only have a certain amount of time to teach them all the skills they need to know whereas with my program there is the ability to practice separately from an official practice time to really work on everything.”

The program, which is the first of its kind in the Sandpoint area, has roughly 20 athletes so far and two other volunteer cheer coaches with prior cheer experience have been brought on board. The program is open to all aspiring competitive cheer athletes from ages seven to 15, boys and girls, especially those in Bonner and Boundary counties. The Sandpoint Sparks currently compete in the greater Coeur d'Alene area, but are one day looking to expand their travel to the entire West region.

To register, learn more about the program, or if interested in becoming a donor/sponsor contact [email protected]. Registration ends July 31 for this upcoming season and youth athletes of all skill levels are welcome. For those who may not be able to afford the Sandpoint Sparks’ tuition rate, the program does have opportunities to offset costs.

In addition, look out for the team in the upcoming Sandpoint Fourth of July parade and Friday, July 12, at Alpine Motors in Ponderay, when the team is set to hold a carwash fundraiser.