Athletes With Spirit An d Strength

A t everyLU footballorbasketball game,thecheerleaders can be seen effortlessly tumbling,jumping,executingstunts and leading chants in support ofthe teams. The fans don't realize there's much more to cheerleadingthanthein-frontof-the-crowd glamour.

Thetwo squadspracticefour days aweek, butputin many hoursontheirowntimeperfectingstuntsandcheers.

Inthe past, cheerleadinghas rarelybeen viewed asasport, but Coach Tracey Pritchardis working tochange that opinion.

"Thesekidsworkreallyhard. They put in asmany hours, if notmore,thansomeoftheother teams oncampus,"shesaid.

In addition to physical strength, the cheerleaders claim that talent and experiencearealso necessary.

One thing thecheerleaders feel is very unique to their squadsisthattheyare the only male/female combined teams on campus.

"We'relike afamily," SaeJin

Kim,oneofthevarsitysquad's captains, said. "We're really openwitheachother."

Onethingthe squadstresses amongstthemselvesistheimportanceofkeepinggoodtestimoniesbeforethe public.

"When you're inthepublic eye as much as we are, you have to be really careful,"

Stephanie Reffher said. "We are lookedatsomuch. I've had people come up tome that I don't even know and ask me questions, challengingmytestimony" fa

By Jennifer S. Blandford

Whetherthe team is up ordown, the cheerleadersprovidean enthusiasticatmosphereatevery game

VarsityCheerleaders

Row 1: LarkAlloway, Sae-Jin Kim. Row 2\ Trainer Barbie Ball,NikkiCampbell, JenniferHicks, StephanieReffner, Michelle Scull, Debbie Weesner, Coach Tracey Pritchard. Row 3: Eric Lingenfelter, PhilCorley, ChrisJohnson, Nathan Rawley, Jeremy Henry, Loui Hrebar,Rick Higinbotham,

JuniorVarsity Cheerleaders

Row 1:Bobbi-Jo Crawford, Ellie Pons

Row 2: Brenda Johnson, Stephanie Flannery, Amy Gadomski, Jennifer Hill. Row 3:MikeHatfield, BruceBoling, Jay Stevenson, Jeff Hart