By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

You only need to share a few minutes with Hope McCloskey to feel her spirit.

Field High School cheerleader Hope McCloskey (front) stands with teammates (left to right) Reagan Anderson, Allison Jarvis and Autumn Birmingham. Tom Nader/Portage Sports

It radiates naturally and it captivates.

Her smile makes you smile.

Her laugh makes you laugh.

Her joy fills your heart with joy.

Hope’s personality could be described as mirror-like, because whatever she feels, you will feel.

Simply put, Hope enjoys being around people and she enjoys life.

It is probably because she had to fight so hard to keep hers.

McCloskey was born 6 weeks premature on July 15, 2007.

She had a hole in her heart and was diagnosed with Down syndrome.

Before she was 6 months old, she had two open-heart surgeries and another emergency procedure to correct twisted bowels in her stomach.

After her second heart surgery, she was brought home on 2007’s Christmas Day.

“We stuck a bow on her forehead,” her mother Tammy McCloskey said.

The family’s special gift was home.

THE VOICE OF A CHEERLEADER

Hope has always been involved in sports and activities, but it was cheerleading where she found her voice.

The sport was a perfect match for her charismatic personality that has always preceded her in the classroom with teachers, in the hallways with friends and on Friday nights at Field High School’s Kenneth Lohr Stadium.

With Tammy active as a cheer mom and advisor, and an older sister, Haley, also a cheerleader, Hope has been around the sport since she was born and began cheering when she was 3.

When Lindsey Friend and Alicia Menegay were hired as the new cheer advisors at Field last year, they “did not even think twice” about including Hope as part of their team.

“It was easy. She is one of the girls. It’s as simple as that,” Menegay said. “All of the girls absolutely love her. She fills all of our hearts.”

Hope graduated from Field in the Class of 2025 and remains a student at the school. She will stay until she turns 22 as part of the district’s Grade 23 program.

It would be difficult to find someone with a better sense of humor — a skill she has refined by watching “Everybody Loves Raymond” every night, but also finds time to watch and study cooking shows.

Hope also works as a volunteer at The Basement, a restaurant in Brimfield, where she spends time rolling up napkins with silverware.

“I have always been ready to be her advocate,” Tammy said. “People don’t always pay attention, so I am her voice.

“The acceptance that the cheerleading program has given Hope has been incredible. Lindsey, Alicia and the whole team, they have been amazing. They did not sign up for the extra challenges that come with having Hope on the team, but they are there for everything. They are always there to make the experience great for Hope. They truly care for her.”

CHEERING WITH A SMILE

Every part of game day brings happiness to Hope.

Her older sister, Haley, 24 and an Ellet High School graduate, along with her caregiver Gia Simonetti, help with all of the game day preparation.

Hair, makeup and all the glitter.

When Hope arrives at the field, she connects with her cheer teammates, but it is the entire environment that captures her attention, especially the band.

“Oh, she loves the band. Just absolutely loves the band,” Tammy said. “And the National Anthem. She will always sing it loud and proud for everyone to hear.”

Her confident voice is also heard during chants.

Teammates Autumn Birmingham, Allison Jarvis and Reagan Anderson all agreed that Hope’s favorite chant starts with the fan directive: “Hey fans in the stands, if your Falcons, clap your hands!”

“You can really tell that being a cheerleader makes her happy,” Birmingham said. “She is always upbeat and dancing, and she especially loves the run-through signs. You can tell that she has a great time, and we have a great time with her, too.”

“There are a lot of times, between things, she is talking to us about something,” Jarvis said. “Maybe about boys, about the band, the game, all kinds of things. She is always so excited, and she brings excitement to us. It is a whole ‘Field’ thing for us. The students, football players, everybody loves her.”

From a distance, Tammy watches and smiles, with appreciation for a “community that has created an opportunity” for her daughter.

“It is a proud moment for me as a mom,” Tammy said.

Friend and Menegay see it from a simple perspective.

“Every cheerleader we have has something unique and something great about them,” Menegay said. “They are all part of the team. There was never a question for us if Hope would be with us or not. We wanted her on the team, and we would not have had it any other way. We love that we can include her and it shows what we are about. We are a team, but the reality is that we are a family first.”

A family made complete by Hope.