| What is the Most Difficult Part of Cheerleading? | |
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What is the most difficult part of Cheerleading ? Is it the physical demands
that are involved in stunting and tumbling. How about handling tryouts ? Time
management ? The point is that there exists at least one aspect every successful
cheerleader must face to reach maximum potential.
Early March afforded an excellent
opportunity. At the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden
in New York, members from virtually every squad were asked the question. All
those interviewed were asked to think of the toughest part of cheer they faced,
and it did not necessarily have to be on the college level. It could have just
as easily been from the Pop Warner or high school days.
The answers varied and were
all significant. UCONN seniors, Kristyn Luksha and Caroline Underwood had an
instant reply. For them the toughest part of Cheerleading will be leaving it
when they graduate.
Makes perfect sense considering the passion and dedication cheerleaders have for their sport.
Boston College
Name - Claire Walters
Hometown - Great Falls, Va
Year - Junior
Toughest part of cheerleading: "Getting the respect as an athlete."
Name - Cherise
Latham
Hometown - Laguna Nigel, California
Year - Junior
Toughest part of cheerleading: "Getting the respect as an athlete.
We are not on scholarship but work as hard as those who are (on scholarship)."
University of
Connecticut
Name - Kristyn Luksha
Hometown - Webster, Mass.
Year - Senior
Toughest part of cheerleading: "Leaving it (at the end of the year).
I'll miss the cheering and working with everyone on the team."
Name - Caroline
Underwood
Hometown - Plaiston, NH
Year - Senior
Toughest part of cheerleading: "Leaving it. It is definitely as
big part of my life."
Georgetown University
Name - Kendra
Mosley
Hometown - Charlestown, West Virginia
Year - Senior
Toughest part of cheerleading: 'Juggling a rigorous academic program
with practice and games during the season."
Name - Anjie
Minors
Hometown - Burlington, NJ
Year - Freshman
Toughest part of cheerleading: "For me the toughest part was this
year, adjusting to new people on the team and adjusting to school."
University of Pittsburgh
Name - Karin
Kirkland
Hometown - Bowie, MD.
Year - Senior
Toughest part of cheerleading: "Tumbling might be the hardest part.
Actually just leaving at the end of the year will be hard also."
Name - Jen
Bellucci
Hometown - Pittsburgh, PA.
Year - Senior
Toughest part of cheerleading: 'The emotions. You go through a lot and
often put pressure on yourself."
Providence College
Name - Melissa
Hartigan
Hometown - Medford, Mass.
Year - Junior
Toughest part of cheerleading: "A tough one. A lot of people don't
know whist cheerleading is about and do not realize the skill involved and that
it's a sport."
Name - Missy
Mleczko
Hometown - Manville, NJ
Year - Senior
Toughest part of cheerleading: "Getting over the old stereotype
that cheerleaders just stand around. We practice a lot and are not recognized
enough for our ability."
St. John's University
Name - Toni
Mefe
Hometown - Yonkers, NY
Year - Junior
Toughest part of cheerleading: "Proving yourself. You have to go
out, perform and prove yourself as you would in any other sport."
Name - Nicole
Quercia
Hometown - Babylon, LI
Year - Junior
Toughest part of cheerleading: "To get 16 people with different
backgrounds and personalities together to become one group, one team."
Seton Hall University
Name - Katie Gilmore
Hometown - Holmdel, NJ
Year - Junior
Toughest part of cheerleading: "The gymnastics and keeping the crowd
motivated. They depend on us."
Syracuse University
Name - Pamela Sheridan
Hometown - Marblehead, Mass.
Year - Freshman
Toughest part of cheerleading: "Beating the stereotype. A lot of
people do not consider us athletes and a lot think all cheerleaders are dumb
(Pamela has a 4.0 cumulative index in Undecided Arts)."
Name - Mandy
Walsh
Hometown- Rochester, NY
Year - Junior
Toughest part of cheerleading: "My major is nursing. And it's tough
to get up at 5 a.m. study, go to the hospital and to practice until late. It's
hectic but I have to be ready and at my best at gametime."
About Ray Floriani: Ray Floriani has been writing college basketball for over twenty years. He is a columnist with Eastern Basketball magazine, Basketball Times and College Hoops Insider. In 1998 he was cited by the Gazelle Group for his work in covering the Coaches vs. Cancer events and was chosen 1999 NIT Media Man of the Year. Contact Ray Floriani.