Opinion

Sunday, February 20, 2005

Cheerleading - It's a new generation

To the
editor,

I wanted to
take just a minute to comment on an issue. The varsity cheerleaders have not
cheered at Dewitt
High School away games
and some people are upset.

Cheerleading
has changed a lot over the years for all levels from the freshman to the
varsity team. I will try to refrain from saying, "when I was in school; " however; years ago, the purpose of the
cheerleaders was to cheer on the boy's team if it was football or basketball
and lead the crowd in cheering. A cheerleader from a couple decades ago would
not make it with our schools standards. It has become competitive as the
girls are refining, learning, and perfecting, gymnastics skills, as well as
cheering. Cheerleading has taken on an entirely new level of intensity. No
longer is a kick enough, a back walk over is required and a back tuck is a
goal. It's not just any cheer; it's a cheer that 15 girls say in PERFECT
unison or arm movements that thirty arms move with the precision of an army;
or it's a back walk over where thirty feet hit the ground at the EXACT same
time like one beat to a drum. The girls train with a gymnastic instructor,
they practice around ten hours per week if not more, cheer at games, and then
compete.

Not only
has cheerleading turned into an intense sport but it has turned into the
girls sport. There purpose is not only to cheer the boys but it's to strive
to be their own team and the best! So the next time
you see a cheerleader ask her how practice was; I bet she'll roll her eyes
and you'll see exhaustion. Then ask her how they're doing at their
competitions and I bet her face will glow with pride and stories will come
out how they scored higher than Dewitt ever has or how injuries put them in a
very tight spot but they pulled through with great scores, or how they're
doing in the League meets, or how they can't wait for States.

I just
wanted people to understand this generation of cheerleaders. When they cheer
at our games, make sure you cheer with them and give them your support. Even
better, go to one of their meets and see what I'm talking about. I'm not
writing this on behalf of anyone in particular; but a mom who has watched
some girls dreams turn to reality.

Audrey Slavin,

Dewitt