Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 29, 1995 TAG: 9501300002
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-18 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ADRIANNE BEE SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
They're not happy that their physical forms say, ``Attention Athletes and Cheerleaders.''
``We should be considered a sport,'' said a disgruntled Julie Gunter.
Though there are no baskets or touchdowns to be made, Jennifer Easter, who also cheers for the CHS Demons, says ``We put a lot of time and energy into what we do.''
What exactly do New River Valley high school cheerleaders do? Obviously, their job description is to lead the cheering in the stands during games. That is when we see them.
But behind the scenes, ``We work our girls to death,'' says Tracey Jenkins, the varsity sponsor at Shawsville High where they have only one squad to cheer at football and basketball games.
Jenkins explained that the cheerleaders are most busy during homecoming events where they sell ``spirit ribbons,'' decorate for dances, and persuade local car dealerships to donate convertibles to carry the homecoming king and queen candidates. They are also in charge of the ballots for electing the high school royalty.
The Shawsville cheerleaders host a parents' night, serve refreshments there, and are in charge of all pep-rallies during the year, according to Jenkins.
Cheerleading at Auburn High involves ``a lot of hard work and hours of practice'' says Pat Dotson, the sponsor. To see some hard work let's go to practice with the cheerleaders at Christiansburg High after school.
Today they are working on a stunt called the ``basket-toss.'' This entails throwing a girl up into the air. If she is lucky, she will fall right back into the other cheerleaders' arms. ``It takes a lot of concentration and coordination to get stunts together,'' says Sabrina Cole. They may not have numbered jerseys but these girls are definitely a team. There is a tense moment as one girl misplaces a leg and nearly falls. Luckily, she slips into the safety of her spotters' arms. When Laurie Cozzolino masters the stunt, the other girls embrace her and smile.
``You need to be careful or you can seriously hurt someone,'' says Julie Price.
The cheerleaders are quick to point out the potential for injury. Last year Angela Mills broke her wrist when she fell off another cheerleader's shoulders. ``I broke my arm cheerleading,'' adds Shannon Brumfield.
In Christiansburg, a number of cheerleaders feel a bit unappreciated. Perhaps the fans and the football players have a tendency to forget about them because they are literally on the sidelines. A few mention the favoritism that they think is shown to football players.
``I sprained my ankle but the football team wouldn't give me any tape. I ended up getting some from the other team's cheerleaders,'' said Amanda Marshall.
With the bruises, scratches, threat of being dropped on their faces, and what one cheerleader described as ``school spirit that's gone down the tubes,'' why do they cheer?
``I love to be in front of the crowd, the attention and excitement,'' said Jennifer Easter. Indeed they get attention and draw crowds, even when there isn't a game. Today members of the football team linger about the girls' practice area. They conveniently eat their pregame meals at tables set up only feet away from the sea of ponytails and short skirts.
Still not convinced that cheerleaders aren't as fluffy and frail as their pompons?
Meet Bobby Bonds, Auburn High's first male cheerleader. Bonds played varsity football and served as the school's mascot, dressing in the Auburn Eagle costume, before deciding to try out.
``He was always a leader in games as far as spirit and pep,'' says Dotson.
by CNB