The Verrado Pom team isn’t just about high-energy halftime shows or hyping up the crowd on Friday nights. At its heart, the program is built on leadership.
Under the guidance of Head Coach Mrs. Palmgren, Pom has grown into a team where athletes shine not only on the floor but also as role models across campus.
Palmgren’s journey into Pom coaching came from her love of dance. “My first teaching job was teaching ballet, so really it’s thanks to dance that I got into education at all,” Palmgren said. “Like any athletic discipline, dance requires an incredible amount of hard work and resilience, qualities that I also emphasize with my students as a school counselor.”
From the beginning, Palmgren envisioned Pom as more than just performance. She wanted the team to help spread positivity throughout campus.
“We emphasize that as part of VHS spirit line, our Pom team is part of the leadership at our school,” she said. “I like to tell the pommies this story of a conversation I had with my daughter, a member of the Class of 2021, when I first joined the Pom team as an assistant coach. She said, ‘Mom, the Pom team at Verrado is a big deal.’ I want our team to keep this in mind: they are a big deal and are noticeable on our campus, which means they need to lead by example and always bring positivity and fun.”
That leadership extends well beyond the sidelines. The team often partners with student groups and community organizations. “Historically, the Pom team has supported Stugo with Wish Week, but this year we will also be partnering with City of Hope to fundraise for our team and for their work treating, preventing and curing cancer,” Palmgren said.
Balancing all of these responsibilities isn’t easy for the athletes. Between practices, games and academics, Pom members face the challenges of time management. Palmgren makes sure her team prioritizes both their health and their schoolwork.
“Time management is a challenge for any student-athlete, and our school has high expectations that our student-athletes are held to,” she said. “We talk to the pommies about taking care of themselves by eating well, taking care of their mental and physical health and getting plenty of rest, but also about keeping up their grades. We have been known to have a study hall in place of practice when it’s needed.”
At Verrado, Pom is more than a performance team. It is a group of leaders who bring school spirit, positivity and community to campus every day.
