Cheer on TAMIU!

"We've got spirit. Yes, we do! We've got spirit! How 'bout you?" Traditionally thought of as a "girly" activity, rather than a true sport, cheerleading is quickly becoming more athletic, more competitive, and is considered to be a lot more dangerous than any other sport at the collegiate level. At the start of this New Year, the TAMIU cheerleading squad has definitely proven this so.

Teacher at United South High School and owner of Texas Gems, a cheer and tumbling gym, Mrs. Edna Mayers is head coach for the TAMIU Cheerleading Squad, two years running. Originally from Laredo, Mayers opened her gym in 2006.

"Anyone, girls and boys of all ages, are welcome to come to my gym," explained Mayers.

At only a reasonable $40 a month, kids are taught the essentials of cheerleading and gymnastics at Texas Gems. Mayers has two very experienced workers, twin brothers Ronnie and Roland Soto, who help her in ensuring the kids' safety when attempting the many hard flips, stunts, and jumps of cheerleading.

While not all of the cheerleaders on the squad are experienced, or have been cheerleaders before, the team has improved drastically from last year. There are six girls who are advanced tumblers, and four flyers. From there being only six cheerleaders the previous school year, there is now twenty-two members in total, twenty-one girls and one boy.

The members of the squad all have different talent. Some were dancers, powerlifters, volleyball players, and of course cheerleaders for many years of their lives. Those who had never cheered previously are learning quickly. Although no formal tryouts were held to become a member of the squad, there were intense summer workouts that prepared these very dedicated girls for the performances they have showed the university and for the many more to come.

Beginning next school year formal tryouts will be held. How many girls will be chosen has not been decided yet, but those girls who are currently cheerleaders must tryout for the upcoming year.

On top of practicing four times a week for two or more hours, and cheering at both women and men sport events, the squad is also extremely involved with on-campus activities and community service. But what if a member of the squad is unable to attend an event for study purposes or personal reasons?

"They are really good about telling me when they cannot attend an event. I always make sure to work around their schedule. They are here because they want to be here," explained Mayers about her squad.

In addition to practicing, attending campus activities, going to school, and working, the squad must also carry the burden of paying their own way for uniforms, shoes, and so forth. Because cheerleading is so expensive, Mayers has taken the time to find sponsors to raise funds for the girls on the squad, that way their money is sure to be reimbursed to them.

Although most people seem to think that cheerleading is all about glits and glamour and hard tricks, it isn't. "The most important concept of cheerleading is to build character. To cheer on our teams and support our university," said Mayers. In doing this, the squad must obviously be able to get along and work as a team. They must all be well-rounded individuals and good leaders at that. The squad does not have a captain or co-captain, rather they each contribute something different and unique to the squad as a whole. Each of their voices are heard.

It is the voices of these girls and their dedication and hard work that will be taking them to Daytona, Florida the first week of April to compete for the title in an NCA Competition. This will be the very first time in TAMIU history that the cheerleading team will compete at a national level.

So, is Cheerleading finally considered an actual sport at TAMIU and are the members considered athletes? With her persistence, Mayers has spoken with the TAMIU administration, and beginning next semester there will be a class dedicated to cheerleading that will ensure that it is in fact an official sport at TAMIU.

There is no doubt that having a cheerleading squad pumps up and encourages the other sports' teams and students of the university. After all, they are cheerleaders, and being enthusiastic and spirited are only two of their many jobs as athletes. "They have worked extremely hard and I must say I love being around my girls, commented Mayers."