By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
Lake Orion graduate and Dallas Cowboy Jeff Heath feels indebted to Lake Orion’s athletic program for teaching him the fundamentals that resulted in him succeeding to the professional level.
“It’s something that I’d like to do every year just because Lake Orion gave me so much,” Heath said. “The high school, the coaches, and the whole community were so good to me when I was there I just feel like it’s the least I could to give back.”
For the second consecutive year Heath is hosting a football camp at the high school football field, and decided to bring his girlfriend and former Dallas Cowboy professional cheerleader Paige Cavalieri for a new segment of the camp aimed at helping cheerleaders become more competitive.
All funds from the camp will support Lake Orion football.
Being called Pom Poms & Pigskins, the dual style camp will be take place on Thursday, June 30, and will also teach players football fundamentals and give athletes exposure to collegiate and professional instruction and drills.
According to Heath, it was Cavalieri’s idea to add a cheerleading aspect to the camp and Heath was immediately on board.
“She loves dancing and teaching so I thought it was a great idea just because the cheerleaders are such a big part of high school football games, especially in Lake Orion,” Heath said.
She’ll begin the morning youth session teaching sideline instruction and a master dance routine. In the afternoon she’ll instruct high schoolers on professional dance preparation, teach them 2-3 sideline cheers and a master dance routine.
Heath, who graduated from Lake Orion in 2009 and played for Saginaw Valley State before signing with Dallas in 2013, said hosting the camp means much more to him than teaching plays and learning routines.
Both football and cheerleading sessions are broken up into two groups based on grade level. The youth camp for pre-high school athletes will run from 9 to 11 a.m. and high school athletes in grades 9-12 will go from 1-3 p.m.
Cost is $50 per participant for both football and cheerleading sessions. The proceeds from the camp will support the Lake Orion Football PEPP.
For more information on the Heath Football Camp go to lodragonfootball.com