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On Friday, April 23, Texas Tech announced the 60th Masked Rider, and two former Raider Reds passed their guns to a new mascot at the Transfer of Reins and Passing of the Guns ceremony.
Ashley Adams, an animal science graduate student, was announced as the 60th Masked Rider at the ceremony. She has served as both an assistant and a volunteer for the Masked Rider program.
âI am so incredibly honored and humbled to serve as the 60th Masked Rider with Fearless Champion,â Adams said.
Stacy Stockard, the 43rd Masked Rider, said the Transfer of Reins is also a time to reflect on the current Masked Riderâs time in the program.
Outgoing Masked Rider reflects after taking on role during challenging times
Reins passed to new Masked Rider By KCBD Staff | April 23, 2021 at 10:54 PM CDT - Updated April 23 at 10:55 PM
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - Only five dozen people have donned the cape, hat, and mask to represent Texas Tech as the iconic Masked Rider. Cameron Hekkert, a native of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is the only one to do so during a global pandemic. This was all unknown thirteen months ago, when the audition process faced an unexpected hiatus.
âTryouts started in February of 2020, and then mid-March was when we were supposed to go through the second phase of tryouts. That was when everything was put on hold, and then the middle of August was when it was officially, publicly announced,â Hekkert said.
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That was some memorable week for the spirit program at Texas Tech with the pom squad winning two national championships, the co-ed cheer squad taking a second place, Raider Red collecting top prize in the mascot category, and the STUNT partner team grabbing a third place.
All in all, not a bad few days work.
The recognition was the result of a lot of hard work leading up to the National Cheerleaders Association & National Dance Alliance Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championships that were held recently in Daytona Beach, Florida.
It is sometimes easy to overlook the efforts of those who comprise the Red Raider spirit program, but these young men and women put in countless hours of work honing their skills and polishing their routines while representing Texas Tech in a positive manner. Earning these accolades in competitions against other respected programs affirms their talent and commitment.
The Texas Tech Co-Ed Cheer and Pom Squad saw success at the Pom and Cheer National Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida, with Co-Ed Cheer coming in second place and pom placing first in both pom and jazz.
Erin Alvarado, Tech Pom Squad head coach, said the teamâs wins feel even more rewarding since this past year was challenging due to COVID-19.
âWe went through so many changes, so many unknowns,â Alvarado said. âThis year, I feel like it was one of our best performances weâve ever done.â
The pom squadâs jazz dance was one of the hardest routines they have performed as it required a lot of technique, Alvarado said. The routine had 18 girls involved, which can make it challenging to dance at the same time.