MORROW, Ohio (WXIX) – Christina, the wife of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas McCluer, is the cheerleading coach at Little Miami High School.

He was on duty and decided to surprise his family before his football team’s practice game on Friday. He surprised his wife and two children before the game.

“I watch these videos online and on TikTok and I never thought this would happen to me,” Christina said.

McCluer’s son Grayson and daughter Evelinn were also there. They were on the field when the announcer called for the stadium to give the staff sergeant a warm welcome.

“I see a man in an army fatigues walking toward my mom,” Grayson said. “And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I swear!'”

It was a happy homecoming for the McCluer family. He had been away from home for nearly a year on deployment.

Christina said she was busy with her children’s school activities and tried to stay in touch with Nicholas through late-night and early-morning chats.

Last year, she became the high school cheerleading coach, and when Nicholas was hired in October, she was busy with the season.

“Fortunately, it was over pretty quickly,” said Christina.

He returned in time to see his wife receive the school’s Panther Spirit Award on Friday. Christina said the town has been an important base for her, Evelinn and Grayson while Nicholas was away.

“They support you and want to be there for you and help you through all the difficult times,” Christina said. “That means a lot to me. The fact that they make something like that possible, and that he does that, really means a lot to me.”

The family said they would take their boat to Lake Norris this weekend to celebrate.

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