Freshman cheerleader adapts, embraces abilities

Every Monday and Wednesday, she heads to the Elmen Center for cheer practice. She runs through routines, helps lift teammates and practices her tumbling. 

Her skill on the mat didn’t always come so easily, though. 

Freshman Nikki Zimiga suffered a stroke before her 1st birthday, leaving the right side of her body numb. Today, she is a backbase on the Augustana cheer team.

Zimiga is from Rapid City and is on the pre-law track, with majors in economics, business communications and Spanish. When Zimiga is not buried in her studies, she finds herself immersed in extracurricular activities, in defiance of her restriction. 

“My stroke has never stopped me,” Zimiga said. “It makes some things frustrating. I play in the orchestra here and I cheerlead, so there are things I have to modify. But for the most part, I’ve found a way to do everything that I want to do.”

When Zimiga was 3 years old, her mom signed her up for violin lessons and dance classes. In high school, Zimiga added cheerleading to the mix. Most of her days as a high school student were filled with cheerleading, playing in the orchestra and coaching both hockey and figure skating. 

In spring 2023, Zimiga joined the Augustana cheer team’s roster. 

“In her inaugural season on the team, Nikki has exuded positivity to game day environments and has been a terrific addition to the AU cheer team,” assistant coach Camryn Reid said. 

Since joining cheer as a teenager, Zimiga has learned to do multiple skills differently in a way that is both safe for her and her teammates. 

“I am the back, and I usually take the ankles. So what I do to modify is generally I just make sure to lift even more with my left, and then [with] my right hand I can still grab on, so I will cup her wrist," Zimiga said. "Sometimes it just takes me an extra second to wrap my hands around, but it's still very safe and it has just been a lot of practice. Things take me longer to get, but I still can do them.”

In the past, Zimiga said she has confronted doubt from teammates about her cheerleading ability. 

“I’ve had coaches say they want to try a new skill and the other cheerleaders would say ‘You won’t be able to do that,’” Zimiga said. “And I understand it’s coming from a place of love and they’re not trying to say you can’t do something, but when they say that, it makes me really want to do it.”

Zimiga said others’ doubts fuel her motivation to accomplish new skills and hone her cheer skills. 

While it takes a bit of extra time to accommodate stunts safely, Zimiga’s Augustana teammates said she stays optimistic. 

“Nikki has a lot of spirit in her and it’s contagious,” sophomore cheerleader Madison Johnson said. “She always has a smile on her face. When the girls are feeling under the weather, she always has positive remarks to boost their spirits.” 

Johnson said Zimiga’s story stands out as an inspiration to anyone who faces physical challenges.

“Her story helps others realize that, no matter the obstacle, they can achieve anything they set their mind to,” Johnson said. 

Freshman cheerleader Ellie Pulse said Zimiga has a determined mindset in all that she does. 

“I have seen determination both in practice and outside,” Pulse said. “She doesn’t let her disability refrain her from doing anything she wants to do. She is so hard working, and being able to witness that is extraordinary.”

As she progresses through her academic and athletic journeys at Augustana, Zimiga plans to continue that determination.

“It’s really only a problem if you let it be a problem. There’s a way around it most of the time. If not, there’s a way through it,” Zimiga said. 

A previous version of this article reported that the left side of Zimiga’s body is numb, she coached cheerleading in high school and quoted her as having said “I am in the backbase and usually they go to take the ankles. So what I need to modify is generally I just make sure to lift even more with my left than my right hand and I can still grab on, then I cuff her wrist.”

However, it is correct that Zimiga’s right side of her body is numb, she coached figure skating in high school and said “I am the back, and I usually take the ankles. So what I do to modify is generally I just make sure to lift even more with my left, and then [with] my right hand I can still grab on, so I will cup her wrist.”