December 9, 2011
SPORTS
Cheerleaders werk hard te prepare fer natienal
cepipetitien, reputatien in mind
By Adrienne Mattson-Perdue
Staff Writer
"I had a lot of misconceptions about
cheerleading coming in," said senior
Darius Verdell. "But doing it for the first
time in my life. I'm like, 'Wow, these
cheerleaders, they work hard and this is
indeed a sport, and it's a contact sport.'"
The Quaker cheerleaders are driven.
This year, the team is hoping to compete
in national competition.
"We've mainly been working just on
game stuff but we went to a camp recently
and worked for about six hours," said
senior Kayla Davis. "We just worked on
the basics. Once we get the basics we can
build on that."
This is a particularly ambitious goal
when you consider that Guilford has only
had cheerleaders for a few years.
The new cheerleaders have much to
learn.
"That's the main thing, working on the
actual technical stuff that accompanies
cheerleading," said Verdell. "I just need to
work on my jumps."
No matter how long they have been
cheering, everyone seems enthusiastic Bethany Eiawks. "I've never competed
about competing. like this; I'm used to (other) sports, but
"I'm really nervous," said senior I'm excited and eager about the new
(Top L-R) Luke Stewart, Kayla Adams, Lauren Duncan, Tasha Birtha, Libby Bare,
and Melissa Towery. (Bottom L-R) Renee Spence, Bethany Hawks and Darius
Verdell smile for the camera.The cheerleading squad hopes to qualify for national competition.
challenge."
According to Melissa Towery, one of
Guilford's two cheerleading coaches,
the team will need to make a video
demonstrating their skill to qualify for
competition.
She believes the team is capable of
qualifying.
"It depends on how hard (the team is)
willing to work," said Towery. "If they are
willing to work, they'll be ready. They can
do it; they have the skills."
It seems that the team is ready to work
for a place in competition.
"We're trying to get a better reputation
for the squad on campus and impress
everybody," said junior cheerleader
Lauren Duncan.
This determination to be recognized is
echoed by junior Renee Spence.
"(Cheerleading) is definitely a sport,"
said Spence.
"A lot of people don't think cheerleading
is a sport," she added. "They think that we
just wave pompoms around and look
cute, but we do a lot of hard work and we
definitely deserve to be seen as as much of
a sport as anything else."
Tebow’s success demonstrates the power of motivation
By Biyan Dooley
Staff Writer
Critics said that he would
not be a college quarterback-
critics said he would not win
the national championship; and
critics said that he would not be a
starting quarterback in the NFL.
The critics were wrong.
Tim Tebow is one of the most
unconventional-yet-successful
quarterbacks in recent times.
Eie won the Heisman Trophy
in 2007 guided the Florida to
two national championships, and
in 2010 was drafted in the first
round by the Denver Broncos.
Tebow has won six games and
lost only once , 45-10 vs. Detroit,
since taking over for recently
released quarterback Kyle Orton
as the Broncos starting signal-
caller.
His accomplishments leave
many people wondering whether
his success comes from his
athletic ability or willpower.
"I think that having heart has
the ability to play a major role at
the NFL level," said senior sports
management major, and former
Guilford College soccer player,
Gillian Carroll. "When it comes to
heart and the will to do anything
you can to extend the play and
give your team a chance. Tebow
has been consistently doing this."
Most of Tebow's passion comes
from his faith.
His parents taught him from
an early age to speak openly
about his faith in God.
He demonstrates his faith on
and off the field, in everything
that he does.
Randall Cunningham, a
16-year veteran of the NFL, spoke
highly of Tebow when asked by
the Las Vegas Review Journal
love Tim Tebow. He is in the
perfect situation to demonstrate
his faith. God has elevated this
young man to a place of trying
to open people's eyes to the
importance of having faith ...
This is a divine time for America,
wants all of us to hear."
His out-spoken belief in
Christianity has caused fans to
either love Tebow or hate him.
"Twenty years ago, the media
and fans praised athletes who
had a strong faith, but today's
Tim Tebow shows off his trademark point-to-the-heavens thanking God.Tebow is the quarterback for the Denver
Broncos, who drafted him in the first round of the NFL draft.Tebow is both criticized and praised by sports fans for the
passion he shows for his faith, but no one denies that his skills as a football player keep him in the game.
his impression of the young and I truly believe a young man media is very different," said
quarterback. of such character, while receiving former Guilfordian sports editor,
"I experienced all the same a lot of persecution from others, Patrick Childs '10.
things," Cunningham said. "I is speaking the words that God "If Tebow wasn't so passionate
about his faith, I think that he
would give into the media, and
stop his public religious practices
— but he hasn't, and I don't think
he ever will stop taking a knee,
despite all the criticism."
Most Broncos' fans realize
that Tebow is full of passion,
determination and high energy,
but they are also realistic about
his potential as a quarterback.
"It is hard to imagine Tebow
would be a successful NFL
quarterback over the long haul,
but if he is surrounded by the
right players, I suppose it could
happen," said Assistant Professor
of Sports Studies Bob Malekoff.
"His ability to run effectively
is certainly a dimension that puts
pressure on opposing teams,"
added Malekoff.
Most fans know that in order
to win championships, you need
a great quarterback and Tebow
does not fit in the category of
great quarterbacks right now.
"Any football fan who has
watched Tebow's many game
winning drives would tell you
that his determination to win
is what won the Broncos those
games — as well as the Denver
defense, which deserves most of
the credit," said Childs.
"As much as Denver believes
that Tebow can win games, they
don't think that he will actually
lead the Broncos to the Super
Bowl."
"But, once again, he's proven
us wrong before," Childs
concluded.