Bringing spirit back to Albany High

Cheerleading has never been a big deal at Albany High School. Compared to the total of six cheerleaders on the squad two years ago, however, this year’s combined team of 25 seems like an army. It is the largest group the school has ever seen. And their mission? “Cheer to be heard, stunt to be seen!”

Five-year veteran cheerleader Andrea Carter remembered that the last time the cheerleaders were mentioned in The Cougar was four years ago in an article arguing that “…cheerleading or any activity that ends in ‘-ing’ isn’t a sport” (without reference to “swimming”).

Senior Will Kim and junior Shayna Bowman both agreed that they don’t hear anything about the cheerleaders from anyone who is not on the squad.

Unlike other high schools, cheerleading is not recognized as a sport at Albany. “People say that we’re not physical and therefore unable to be a sport, when in actuality we’re more physical than the PE classes that I’ve seen,” said Coach Vivian Freeman who created the Albany cheer program seven years ago.

“They say that the team consists of a bunch of airheads, which is not true because we have students with 3.5 and 4.0 GPAs balancing practice, their homework, and all their other activities, so they’re not just a bunch of dizzy broads!” Coach Freeman said.

The cheerleaders are not provided transportation to the games and do not have access to practice facilities. According to Coach Freeman, they have been granted access to the gym by one coach, only to be kicked out by another under the pretext that the gym is reserved for sports teams only.

As Coach Freeman explained, “The administration was really adamant about us not being a sport. I first approached Ron Rosenbaum in ‘04 to make us a sport and they kept saying ‘We’re going to look at it next year’ until this year they decided it’s not going to be a sport, which is unfair because during my training sessions at NCA, other coaches said that their teams are considered a sport and are recognized by the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation).”

In previous years the cheerleaders were required to maintain a 2.0 GPA and submit all the forms required from members of other sports, even though cheerleading didn’t hold sport status.

When last year’s captain and co-captain attempted to submit a club charter form because the team doesn’t qualify as a sport, they were rejected by the student leadership on the grounds that cheerleading isn’t a club either.

This year the athletic department is no longer involved with cheerleading activities, but Coach Freeman has decided to continue upholding the GPA requirement to ensure the girls don’t fall behind academically. She also keeps medical forms on file as a safety precaution.

Despite stereotypes and restrictions placed upon them, the cheerleaders are doing more than yelling from sidelines in skirts. They practice four to five days a week after school, and are preparing for regional competitions.

This summer, the cheerleaders attended the National Cheerleaders Association Cheer Camp at UC Davis, where the team was evaluated and awarded a legendary Spirit Stick, as well as ratings of “Superior.” Six girls were nominated for the All-American Team, and two, including freshman Daria Taplin-Tugwell, made the team, one of the most prestigious honors for cheerleading nation-wide.

The cheerleaders also won a prize in the parade at this year’s Solano Stroll with a routine that the coach admitted was put together in about two hours the day before.

Junior Cleo Allen who cheered for two years on the Diamond All Star team still has “mixed feelings” about the wide range of skill levels among the cheerleaders at Albany High, but agrees that this year’s team is “a lot better” than it’s been credited for in past years and that people are starting to notice.

Coach Freeman added, “But we could still use a lot more support!”

4 Responses

1. 9:54 AM on October 5th, 2007Anonymous:

   I think the cheerleaders are doing a great job! Watch out for them at Regionals.

2. 9:20 AM on October 6th, 2007Anonymous:

   GO LADY COUGARS. NICE TO SEE A BIG SQUAD WITH EXPERIENCE!

3. 4:36 PM on February 18th, 2008anonymous:

   The issue of cheerleading not being considered a “sport” is a huge one. I just read an article about this and found out that the California Interscholastic Federation does not consider cheerleading a sport at all…yet they consider badminton a sport!

4. 7:09 AM on September 3rd, 2008Anonymous:

   kwl job guys you have really shown your school what cheerleaders can do now all you have to do is proove to every one else how gud you really are
   and thanks to all americans a few years back british started cheerleading and i am now a cheerleader
   and proud of it !
   well done guys keep up the good work !

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