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SPORTS
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Cheer team working to combat cheerleading stereotypes
BY NICOLE ZELNIKER
Staff Writer
Standing on the sidelines, the
Guilford dieer/dance team raises
their arms in unison, urging on the
Guilford College football team.
As the ba^l flies beyond the
goal line, the cheer team claps and
screams, trying with all their might
to be heard over the raucous crowd
that now collectively holds its breath.
Whether in front of the
bleachers or off to the sidelines, the
cheerleaders work hard to perfect
their performances.
"As a spectator, I thought cheer
was just lifting your arms and
jumping around but you have to
be strong," said sophomore cheer
member Za Huang.
The Guilford dieer team started
last year as a dub.
"A lot of people didn't even
INSIDE SPORTS
View from the trenches
know we had a cheer team," said
sophomore cheer member Hannah
Sones. "This year, we had a lot of
interest."
Eleven students from various
cheerleading backgrounds make up
the team.
"I've never cheered before last
year, so it was a new experience,"
said sophomore cheerleader
Jeannine Harrell.
Others have experience with
dance and decided to give cheer a
try.
"I've always done something
related to dandng, but it's not
all about that," said fibrst-year
cheerleader Beatriz Caldas. "We
work really hard to memorize cheers
and do a lot of workouts."
Because of media exposure, many
associate cheerleaders with not only
femininity, but with anti-feminism.
"The cultural conception is that
it's really a 'girl' activity, not even a
sport," said sophomore cheerleading
co-captain Morgan Holmberg.
"When , cheerleading originally
started, it was male-only. But men
shouldn't be afraid; Zi is an awesome
member."
Huang is one such example. The
only male on the cheer team, he has
demonstrated ability beyond his
backgroimd in dancing.
"He's showing other guys that
he's part of the cheer team, and it's
not just for women," said junior
cheerleader Vanessa Madonna.
"More guys should join. It's not just
a feminine sport."
Many spectators are not aware
of how many men go on to cheer in
college and beyond.
"The guys who cheer are
awesome," said sophomore
cheerleading co-captain Jocelyn
Foshay. "A lot of the guys that
I cheered with as an All-Star
cheerleader in high school are now
on nationally ranked teams."
For Huang, this stereotype is not
getting in his way.
"Guys should really give it
a chance," said Huang. "It's a
wonderful experience. Despite
being a guy on the cheer team,
the ladies treat me as just another
member of the team."
Many female students struggle
with the balance between cheering
and feminism, although they are
working towards an environment
where the two can co-exist.
"It does feel unfair that we're
always supporting other sports,
but we do support the women's
basketball team," said senior
cheerleading co-captain Dakota
McHenry. "I believe that feels more
empowering to women than it
does to cheer on the sidelines of a
football game."
For Huang, this is one experience
he is glad he did not miss out on just
because of gender norms.
"If s a wonderful experience,"
said Huang. "The ladies on the team
really have helped me out."
One hope is that a multi-gendered
cheer team can bring change to other
sports on campus.-
"There are so many sports that
girls can participate in if people
opened up their minds to it," said
sophomore cheerleader Elizabeth
Shelton.
This tight-knit team is always
looking for new students of any
gender to support the team in
addition to lool^g out for their own.
"We've improved so much," said
sophomore and cheerleader Sammy
Toth. "If s astounding. We really look
and feel like a team now, twisted
ankles and all."
REESE SETZER
Staff Writer
Men’s soccer update
BY BANNING WATSON
Staff Writer