Some would say the role of today's cheerleader hasn't changed much from years past.

But has it?

The basic role, according to Peggy Shewman, Tippecanoe Valley High School cheerleading assistant coach, is still the same - "To build school spirit. That's the biggest thing. Not just for sports, but overall."

Whitko High School Coach Sherri Ayres said, "Our main focus is to get the crowd to respond."

Tracy Horrell, Warsaw Community High School and Edgewood Middle School coach, said their role in regard to games is support. They make the connection between the athletes and the fans, making it a fun environment. Cheerleading, as a sport, he said, brings in the competition aspect.

"Cheerleading isn't a sport until you decide to compete," he said. "... That puts you into check as to where your skill level is."

And don't mistake today's cheerleaders for the ditsy stereotype often perpetuated in movies.

"... Of our 17 girls, 11 of them have a B+ or better GPA overall. They're good students on top of (it all)," said Shewman.

"I'm very proud of that," Laurie Carlin, TVHS coach said of the high grade point average of her cheer squad.

Cheerleaders, said Shewman, are involved in many other extracurricular activities besides cheering. Many participate in dance, a spring sport and clubs and organizations like student government.

They also put in some time of their own for cheerleading. They make posters and banners at home or bake treats for the athletes.

And cheerleaders say the snobbish stereotype simply is not true.

"Some people tend to think cheerleaders are stuck up," said Caylyne DeGood, Wawasee senior, but she was quick to dispel that myth. She said girls get into cheering to have fun, and most cheerleaders like to meet people, make new friends and hang out with old friends.

Most girls start cheerleading in the sixth grade, said Shewman. During the basketball season, the TVHS cheerleaders hold a mini-cheer clinic for all the kids in grades kindergarten through eight throughout the school corporation. The clinic is one way to introduce students to cheering.

"We know we are role models," said Caroline Mahnensmith, Wawasee High School senior. She said young aspiring cheerleaders come up to them to talk and ask questions. They go to games just to watch the cheerleaders.

Krysta Kindig, TVHS junior, said she always looked up to cheerleaders when she was younger. She always wanted to be one. And now that she is, "I just like performing in front of people.

"All the boys want to be football players. All the girls want to be cheerleaders," said Ashley Lindenmier, TVHS junior cheerleader.

"I did it because it looked fun. Just being in front of the crowd and supporting the other teams," said Mandi Moore, Wawasee High School junior.

Whitko High School senior Jessica Ringle said, "I thought it was really fun to be at the games and get everyone cheering."

TVHS senior cheerleader Jenna Gross said the best part of being a cheerleader happens at the games when they help get the crowd into the game. The fan support and cheering can give the players a boost. "It makes a difference," she said.

Girls aren't the only ones who can help cheer on a team to victory. Whitko High School has male cheerleaders, often referred to as lifters.

Wesley Renschler, a Whitko senior, has been a lifter for three years now while sophomore Ron Wilson is in his second year and McAaron Kraft is experiencing his first year.

Renschler said Kraft got involved because he was literally pulled off the side of the road while he himself got involved because of friends.

"Something new to do and fun," said Wilson of why he got involved.

But it's not like the guys don't have other stuff to keep them busy. Renschler plays football and is on the track team. Kraft is also in track while Wilson "works a lot."

And then there are the negative comments the guys sometimes encounter for being a male cheerleader.

"A lot of people want to do it but they are afraid of what people think," said Wilson.

"They don't think we (cheerleaders) deserve a varsity letter for it," said Kraft.

"They don't know how much time we put into it," said Wilson

Tryouts for most high school cheerleading squads are held in March. Practice then picks up in June and goes on into the school year.

"They get a three-month reprieve and that's about it," said Shewman.

"We are a sport. We get no breaks. We are a year-round (team)," said TVHS senior Ashley Cook.

Since many of the Whitko male cheerleaders also are on the football team, the Whitko cheer squad often works around their schedule. Luckily, the guys are able to make it to state competition, but with minimal practice time.

Whitko's cheerleading team has competed at the state level for the past three years, according to Ayres. They came in third, fourth and fifth at state consecutively. "When we compete at the state level," she said, "we are competing against much larger schools."

Their goal this year was simple: A clean routine with no mistakes. "This year," said Ayres, "we only had one slight mistake." However, unlike other sports with scores, cheerleading judging is subjective. What may please one judge in one competition may not excite another judge in a different competition. But Ayres said she thought with their routine, they felt they should have placed higher.

But she said she's still proud of her team. "Who wouldn't take fifth in state?" Ayres said.

So to get a state-winning team, what are cheerleading coaches looking for in a cheerleader?

"When we have tryouts," said Peggy Shewman, Tippecanoe Valley High School cheerleading assistant coach, "we look for enthusiasm, good leaders. We like them to be able to do good jumps."

Angie Nine, Wawasee High School cheerleading assistant coach, said they look for "someone who's outgoing. A team player. Someone who's not afraid to get a crowd going in the game."

Creativity also plays a role in being a cheerleader.

Cook said, "We try to be different every year."

"We have our own style," said Lindenmier.

Coaches themselves also can't just be anyone off the street, Horrell said. "Now," he said, "you have to be knowledgeable" because it's more than chants and dancing.

With all that effort, time and sometimes money put into cheerleading, do the cheerleaders get an appropriate amount of appreciation for all their work?

Carlin said some people appreciate them. If anyone has any connection to cheerleading, they often show their appreciation.

But Lindenmier said the hardest part of cheerleading is when something doesn't go right or they mess up and they get ridiculed. "We don't get near the respect we should," she said.

Regardless of the amount of respect the cheerleaders receive, the benefits of cheering are numerous, according to those involved. Carlin said the cheerleaders gain confidence in front of a crowd, have a good time and get a lot of physical activity and exercise.

Whitko senior Jessica Cripe said she used to be shy but not anymore - because of cheerleading. "It's changed me a lot," she said. Ringle agreed saying it helped break her out of her shell.

Horrell said the benefits are similar to those of other sports: it helps create high self-esteem, teaches team building and for some, there is scholarship money available for college. Usually, scholarship money for college cheerleading will just pay for books, but Horrell said, "I think that's on the increase."

Maybe cheerleading has changed after all.

Nine said, "Cheerleading has become more of a sport throughout the years. It's not like it used to be. They need to be strong. They need to be fit. I think they are more of an athlete than just a cheerleader." [[In-content Ad]]