MCC board approves competitive cheering for 2009-10

Melissa McGuire - Daily News
Staff Writer

Tuesday,
January 27, 2009

SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central girls will have a chance to
compete in cheerleading next winter after the school board Monday approved
Athletic Director Tim Genson’s request.

Genson showed the board a YouTube video of a competitive routine by
another school to give board members an idea of what competitive cheerleading
is.

Rather than the girls standing on the sidelines
and cheering on the team with chants, they will have a routine —
featuring jumps, tumbling, dance-type moves and stunts — they perform
against other cheerleading teams.

A survey sent out to students in grades 8 through 11 showed that of the
62 students interested in participating in cheerleading, 48 of those would
like to compete.

Competitive cheerleading will replace traditional sideline cheer in the
2009-2010 school year. Dates for the sport would be Nov. 9 through March 6,
including nine to 12 competitions. Genson said there has been talk by
sideline cheerleading coaches that the program could remain in place as a
club sport for the girls who still want to cheer at games. The cost of
competitive cheer would be offset by eliminating fall and winter sideline
cheerleading as it currently operates.

A coach will be hired and trained for the competitive cheer team.