Cheer Is A Sport

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  Wai'anae, Hawai'i
  October 29th, 2013 - Wai'anae, Hawaii
  
  Cheerleading requires a lot of dedication and commitment, “Yes, especially when they compete with other schools, there’s a lot of stunts, flips, and all that kind of stuff” says Athletic Trainer Ben Joven.
  
  Straddles, liberties, and back handsprings, cheerleaders have to learn them all, all while supporting and encouraging their team. Despite all the work involved in cheering, many people still don’t consider it a sport, but to others, cheerleading is more than that.
  
  “I like cheerleading because, it’s exciting, and it pumps you up,” junior and Waianae High School Cheerleader Jasielle Phillips said.
  
  Some people think of cheerleading as less of a sport because they only ever get to see cheerleaders on the sidelines.
  
  “I think people say that cheerleading isn’t a sport because they only see us at football games, and they don’t normally see us at competitions and our practices, and they don’t really see what we do here,” junior WHS Cheerleader Angelika Ayau said.
  
  At each practice cheerleaders run a mile, and do extensive cardio and strength training exercise. What many people fail to realize is that cheerleading can give you a boost throughout college by earning scholarships up to $1,000 or more. There are also nearly twelve to fourteen schools that offer full-ride scholarships to cheerleaders. Although some others may not see cheerleading as a sport, the fact that colleges are willing to pay for their schooling proves that a cheerleader is a valued college athlete.

“I think people say that cheerleading isn’t a sport because they only see us at football games, and they don’t normally see us at competitions and our practices, and they don’t really see what we do here,”

Angelika Ayau

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Looking Back

Jazmine Calixtro, Reporter

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Dylan Taylor, Photographer

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