2008 Woodie Awards
Cheerleaders provide spirit for football team
By Amanda Rossey
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Focus
"My mom was a cheerleader (so) she influenced me the most," Kerr said. "After I made the team then, I started to really like it, so I (have) stuck with it ever since."
When she first tried out for the SRU team, Kerr said, "I was petrified, more scared than I can put into words."
After making the team, however, Kerr could relax some and get to know the team.
In fact, she said her favorite part of cheerleading is the team aspect of it.
"The squad is close," Kerr said. "We're like a family."
Kerr also said that she likes how it's not like any other sport and said that it takes hard work and dedication to be on the squad.
She said she also likes to cheer at football games and if she had to pick a favorite stunt, it would be a "full up heel stretch double twist down."
A male cheerleader on the squad is sophomore exploratory major Nicholas Carlson, 20, who is currently in his second year on the SRU team.
He said his cheering career started when he became a part of his high school basketball cheerleading squad.
"My best friend was a male cheerleader and thought that I would do a good job, so I got into it and I did very well," Carlson said.
His success continued his senior year when he was part of an All-Star cheerleading squad, so he said he decided to try out for the SRU team.
"I was nervous at first (because) it was not like high school (cheerleading), but I had great supports behind me," Carlson said.
Carlson said his favorite part of cheerleading is the gymnastics aspect because he feels it's the challenge of cheerleading.
"It's not like football and wrestling," Carlson said. "I had to work at it."
Tryouts for the co-ed team are held each April for the following year, and Fotia said she encourages all those interested to come out and not be afraid to try.
To be a female cheerleader, the only requirement is a standing back handspring, and for the male cheerleaders, Fotia said they are looking for males that have cheerleading experience and that show an interest in cheerleading.
"Most (people) eliminate themselves before tryouts are over," Fotia said.
When she first tried out for the SRU team, Kerr said, "I was petrified, more scared than I can put into words."
After making the team, however, Kerr could relax some and get to know the team.
In fact, she said her favorite part of cheerleading is the team aspect of it.
"The squad is close," Kerr said. "We're like a family."
Kerr also said that she likes how it's not like any other sport and said that it takes hard work and dedication to be on the squad.
She said she also likes to cheer at football games and if she had to pick a favorite stunt, it would be a "full up heel stretch double twist down."
A male cheerleader on the squad is sophomore exploratory major Nicholas Carlson, 20, who is currently in his second year on the SRU team.
He said his cheering career started when he became a part of his high school basketball cheerleading squad.
"My best friend was a male cheerleader and thought that I would do a good job, so I got into it and I did very well," Carlson said.
His success continued his senior year when he was part of an All-Star cheerleading squad, so he said he decided to try out for the SRU team.
"I was nervous at first (because) it was not like high school (cheerleading), but I had great supports behind me," Carlson said.
Carlson said his favorite part of cheerleading is the gymnastics aspect because he feels it's the challenge of cheerleading.
"It's not like football and wrestling," Carlson said. "I had to work at it."
Tryouts for the co-ed team are held each April for the following year, and Fotia said she encourages all those interested to come out and not be afraid to try.
To be a female cheerleader, the only requirement is a standing back handspring, and for the male cheerleaders, Fotia said they are looking for males that have cheerleading experience and that show an interest in cheerleading.
"Most (people) eliminate themselves before tryouts are over," Fotia said.
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