McKinley Winkle Enjoys Experience at Montana State
5/2/2020 11:11:00 AM | Spirit Squad
Spirit Squad member McKinley Winkle has senior season cut short early, but relishes opportunity provided as a Bobcat
When the Big Sky Conference announced the cancellation of the remainder Conference Basketball Tournaments on March 12, teams still in the hunt for a title left Boise, Idaho, without a chance to complete their seasons as they may have scripted.
They weren't the only ones that had their seasons end without fanfare.
McKinley Winkle's senior year on the Montana State Spirit Squad had been one that featured plenty of bright spots. She made the trip to Texas Tech to cheer for Bobcat football, eventually supporting the program at a majority of games for a team that advanced to the FCS semifinals for the first time in 35 years. She experienced Bobcat volleyball tie its highest win total of 15 overall for just the second time since 2005. Winkle cheered from the base line as the MSU women's basketball team completed arguably its greatest season in program history and the men's basketball team earned a winning overall record for the first time in a decade.
Winkle and her teammates weren't prepared for how March 12 would go down.
The Bobcat Spirit Squad had already represented MSU during the women's basketball team's quarterfinal and semifinal victories in CenturyLink Arena. They would have been at the Bobcat men's quarterfinal contest against Portland State scheduled for 2 p.m.
"Our men's team was pretty good and for how good our women's team was, I was super excited to have the opportunity to cheer that week," Winkle said. "After being done in the Brick, it was pretty sad to have that chapter close, but I was excited for my last hoorah as a senior. The Boise trip is always fun because we don't travel a lot, so I was really looking forward to the games."
Winkle's morning on March 12 started similarly to the previous day with knocking on the door. Instead of the hotel cleaning staff mistaking her room for a group that was departing, it was coach Stacy Heidinger at the door. She had rounded up team members in the hallway. That's when Winkle found out that her final collegiate cheer season had come to a close.
Instead of heading to the Arena to finish out the Big Sky Conference Tournament, Winkle and her teammates were packing up to get on the bus to head back to Bozeman.
The Helena native said it was heartbreaking at the time to have her season end the way it did. With the academic year ending drawing closer, it's been a reminder of how the last few weeks have played out.
"This week has definitely been tough so far," Winkle said. "It would have been (Spirit Squad) tryouts weekend, we would have had all of our banquets this past week and then next week I'm graduating, so it's definitely been a weird time. I'm starting to get a little bit more closure on things, but that's also been hard.
"It's weird to think that it's all over, but I'm starting to wrap my head around it all. It still feels kind of surreal."
Despite an unexpected end to her college career, Winkle said she's appreciated her time at Montana State.
She was born in Missoula and grew up a fan of Montana initially after moving to Helena when she was younger. As the choice for college drew near, Winkle knew Montana State had a great business school. A tour of campus and the opportunity to cheer on the Bobcat Spirit Squad sold her to come Bozeman following high school at Helena Capital.
Her time at Montana State was certainly eventful.
Beyond the games at Bobcat Stadium or the trips with the other athletic teams, Winkle and her teammates spent plenty of time working on their craft at practice. She said she's grown up alongside her teammates on the Spirit Squad and among the other student-athletes. She noted it felt "so much bigger than" being part of the MSU cheer and dance teams.
Winkle also had opportunities to represent Montana State outside the realm of cheering.
As a business marketing major, Winkle served as an intern for Bobcat Athletics' marketing staff. She was able to assist at events when she wasn't cheering, learn what goes on behind the scenes of an event, along with help in several creative projects such as Meet The Cat videos as well recently hosting a live cheer clinic on the Bobcats' Facebook page. She also served as one of the Spirit Squad's representatives for Student-Athlete Advisory Committee this past year.
"I definitely knew just from being a marketing student of how much goes into each event, but it blew my mind how many people it takes to make game day possible," Winkle said. "There are a lot of little things that are involved in athletics.
"Being part of SAAC was a great opportunity. Since Spirit Squad isn't necessary an NCAA sport, I listened to the other teams and how they run, so it was interesting to me to get a well-rounded view of athletics as a whole."
While she plans to stay close to Helena for her brother's senior year of high school, Winkle is looking ahead to what her future may hold with her impending graduation. Whether she's working in the marketing field or assisting in cheering at the high school level, Winkle's resume will feature a variety of highlights she experienced as a Bobcat.
"I can't even put it into words," Winkle said of her time at MSU. "It's been such a great opportunity and I've been able to meet so many amazing people. It means a lot to me to reach out and make these connections and show what it means to be a Montana State student-athlete.
"It's honestly been the best time I've ever had and I'm so thankful for my coaches, the athletic department and teammates during these four years. It's been a surreal experience."
They weren't the only ones that had their seasons end without fanfare.
McKinley Winkle's senior year on the Montana State Spirit Squad had been one that featured plenty of bright spots. She made the trip to Texas Tech to cheer for Bobcat football, eventually supporting the program at a majority of games for a team that advanced to the FCS semifinals for the first time in 35 years. She experienced Bobcat volleyball tie its highest win total of 15 overall for just the second time since 2005. Winkle cheered from the base line as the MSU women's basketball team completed arguably its greatest season in program history and the men's basketball team earned a winning overall record for the first time in a decade.
Winkle and her teammates weren't prepared for how March 12 would go down.
The Bobcat Spirit Squad had already represented MSU during the women's basketball team's quarterfinal and semifinal victories in CenturyLink Arena. They would have been at the Bobcat men's quarterfinal contest against Portland State scheduled for 2 p.m.
"Our men's team was pretty good and for how good our women's team was, I was super excited to have the opportunity to cheer that week," Winkle said. "After being done in the Brick, it was pretty sad to have that chapter close, but I was excited for my last hoorah as a senior. The Boise trip is always fun because we don't travel a lot, so I was really looking forward to the games."
Winkle's morning on March 12 started similarly to the previous day with knocking on the door. Instead of the hotel cleaning staff mistaking her room for a group that was departing, it was coach Stacy Heidinger at the door. She had rounded up team members in the hallway. That's when Winkle found out that her final collegiate cheer season had come to a close.
Instead of heading to the Arena to finish out the Big Sky Conference Tournament, Winkle and her teammates were packing up to get on the bus to head back to Bozeman.
The Helena native said it was heartbreaking at the time to have her season end the way it did. With the academic year ending drawing closer, it's been a reminder of how the last few weeks have played out.
"This week has definitely been tough so far," Winkle said. "It would have been (Spirit Squad) tryouts weekend, we would have had all of our banquets this past week and then next week I'm graduating, so it's definitely been a weird time. I'm starting to get a little bit more closure on things, but that's also been hard.
"It's weird to think that it's all over, but I'm starting to wrap my head around it all. It still feels kind of surreal."
Despite an unexpected end to her college career, Winkle said she's appreciated her time at Montana State.
She was born in Missoula and grew up a fan of Montana initially after moving to Helena when she was younger. As the choice for college drew near, Winkle knew Montana State had a great business school. A tour of campus and the opportunity to cheer on the Bobcat Spirit Squad sold her to come Bozeman following high school at Helena Capital.
Her time at Montana State was certainly eventful.
Beyond the games at Bobcat Stadium or the trips with the other athletic teams, Winkle and her teammates spent plenty of time working on their craft at practice. She said she's grown up alongside her teammates on the Spirit Squad and among the other student-athletes. She noted it felt "so much bigger than" being part of the MSU cheer and dance teams.
Winkle also had opportunities to represent Montana State outside the realm of cheering.
As a business marketing major, Winkle served as an intern for Bobcat Athletics' marketing staff. She was able to assist at events when she wasn't cheering, learn what goes on behind the scenes of an event, along with help in several creative projects such as Meet The Cat videos as well recently hosting a live cheer clinic on the Bobcats' Facebook page. She also served as one of the Spirit Squad's representatives for Student-Athlete Advisory Committee this past year.
"I definitely knew just from being a marketing student of how much goes into each event, but it blew my mind how many people it takes to make game day possible," Winkle said. "There are a lot of little things that are involved in athletics.
"Being part of SAAC was a great opportunity. Since Spirit Squad isn't necessary an NCAA sport, I listened to the other teams and how they run, so it was interesting to me to get a well-rounded view of athletics as a whole."
While she plans to stay close to Helena for her brother's senior year of high school, Winkle is looking ahead to what her future may hold with her impending graduation. Whether she's working in the marketing field or assisting in cheering at the high school level, Winkle's resume will feature a variety of highlights she experienced as a Bobcat.
"I can't even put it into words," Winkle said of her time at MSU. "It's been such a great opportunity and I've been able to meet so many amazing people. It means a lot to me to reach out and make these connections and show what it means to be a Montana State student-athlete.
"It's honestly been the best time I've ever had and I'm so thankful for my coaches, the athletic department and teammates during these four years. It's been a surreal experience."
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