We've Got Spirit
 

I just got finished reading this book, and I'm curious to know about one of the cheerleaders that was highlighted. She went to University of Louisville, then (I think) she transferred to Morehead State. Her name is Shawnda Bates, and I'm curious to know if she pledged a GLO. Thanks! :)

Hey! I don't know if she pledged a GLO or not...but I just wanted to say that I loved that book!!!:)

What did you think of it?! When I read it, it brought me right back to my own HS cheerleading days!:):D

I think we have aa DG on Greek Chat that was a member of that high school's squad....

I have never read this book but I was just browsing the sight and I noticed that the girls name was shawnda and that is my name spelled the same way. I thought that was neat you don't find a whole lot.

You're right, Amy! Her GC name was/is "RachDG" and she is a Delta Gamma at Morehead State in Kentucky. I remember she mentioned it once in a thread. I haven't seen her on here in quite awhile, though.

SisterPlum: I *loved* the book! Even though I'm supposed to be studying for comps, I read the entire book in one evening! ;) It seems that everyone (including me before this book) assumes that just because they're an outstanding squad, they have unlimited financial resources and come from these amazing privledged backgrounds. The cultural info on the area gave me an insight to the book that was really helpful to understanding why these girls are so driven. Oh Gawd, I just love cheerleading! :D

Hey girls
I just wanted to reply to this bc it brought a little smile to me face.
I cheered my first three years in college, co-ed, we cheered year round basketball(men and women:) football, and College Nationals in Daytona beach. It was a ton of work, especially keeping trim, but it gave a lot of good memories. And I had a chance to see Louisville all girls and coed perform(although they lost the last year I was there, and had to burn their pre made champion 10 yrs in a row on the beach that they had made) They are a ton of talent though.
I am not cheering this year though(my 4th yr, I have way too much work now)
But I just wanted to send love to all my fellow cheerleading greek sisters!
I have never read this book, Ill have to look into it now.

I just ordered the book (used; $3.50!!) off amazon and I can't wait!!

I was a cheerleader in high school-- but we were more dance oriented than gymnastics oriented. Fierce battle of dance squads in my city though and we always placed in top 3. It was a lot of fun, but a lot of work-- I cheered all 4 years and that meant being at school at 6am for 2 hour dance practices before school, 1 1/2 hour tumbling practice after school and 5 days a week for 4 hours a day all summer.

When I got to USC, I went to Song girl tryouts--after a couple of days, I was all, OMG, enough is enough, do I want to do this again? And I dropped. lol Kinda wish now I hadn't, but oh well!

Yes amy I know exactly what you mean
College cheering was/is much more tumbling and stunt oriented than high school.(High school was a lot more fun though, you could be more of an individual, and it was more of a good time(hard work, but different) I swear I tumbled more in college for cheerleading than I did as a gymnast(and I was a level 10 gymnast)
I want to get that book!
I reminisse(sp?) about high school cheering all the time, I wish I could go back:)

:) Its funny, cause I've been out of high school for, YIKES, 15 years this year, and just recently I've started to have dreams that have revolved around cheer practice-- too funny!

USC's squad is not gymnastic at all. Its all dance. :)
I was not a strong tumbler--too tall-- good dancer and limber as hell though! haha

Hehehe...yeah, I reminisce about hs cheering too. I grew up with all of the girls who I cheered with, and we had a ball! College cheering is so different... We're all so stressed about life in general that practice can be tiring before we even start! Sometimes cheering is hard around recruitment....we all get so close, and then it's like there is this unspoken competition b/w the upperclassmen to get the freshman in our house. It's nuts :)

Moxie,
What year are you? Do you guys(girls) go to Daytona? I wonder if I have seen you before:)

deltajas: No, you have never seen me at Nationals. Our school "doesn't have the money" to let us compete. :rolleyes: I'm a senior, so this is my 4th year, and we're an all-girl squad of 12.

I really wish I could get back into cheerleading here, but I don't think it's gonna work out. I'm going to be attending FSU in the fall (I'm at Tallahassee Community College right now) and FSU has 2 squads...a co-ed one, which I'd never make (I'm 5'8", 140.....not top material...I'm terrified of heights....I'm a base baby!) and an all-girl squad, which I also don't think I'd make.....I'm not good at gymnastics at all....which every cheerleader here in FL seems to be experts at!!!! I may see what the requirements are for the all-girl squad....I really miss cheering! I cheered at my old university in Canada for 2 years and it was so much fun! We never went to any comp's....just cheered football and basketball, had some clinics for the hs's, and did some performances at hs comp's.....but we were trying to get to NCA nationals in Daytona (unfortunately our school wouldn't sign the necessary papers...they considered us a "club" rather than a varsity team and wouldn't let us go!:( )
Hopefully I'll get back into it somehow....maybe I can look into coaching here in Tally!:D

Hey girls
Yeh our school did not give us any help either, even though we worked so hard for them, yet expected us to always be the perfect little cheerleaders, thankfully though we hold a spirit challenge each year for all the squads from all stars to high school, we judge, set up:(, clean up, and perform. Its a lot of work, but it gave us just enough to go to nationals each year, so moxie I feel your pain:)
Sisterplum, I know for my squad requirements were at least a standing backhandspring(and I know down south they are more), funny too I was the most experienced gymnast, yet the secoond tallest on my squad at 5'5. But your weight seems pretty thin to me for your height, you should look into professional cheerleading, I was going to last year, but did not have the time although maybe next year. They are more into dance, and your height could be an advantage. Good luck!

deltajas,
I knew that the south would have more req's for gymnastics! Dammit!!!:( Ah well!
Thanks for the tip about pro cheerleading (and by that I'm assuming you mean like NFL and NBA cheerleaders right?!) Unfortunately I live in Tallahassee right now (not the hub of professional sports that's for sure!!!) I don't know if I'd like pro cheerleading though...I'm more of a stunt person myself! I love throwing people in the air and creating super pyramids!!! If only the NFL cheerleaders did that.....that would be really cool!:D
I did email the coach of FSU's squad and asked for the req's for the all-girl squad there, so we'll see! Who knows, maybe they don't require gymnastics?! Now that would be a dream!:D:p

Does anybody else here on GC cheer for their university? I do and just got back from UCA nationals in Orlando. Did anyone else go? I thought it was very interesting how Kentucky got booed and the crowd started chanting U-C-F when they were interviewing one of the Kentucky girls.

Kentucky had a slight edge on difficulty, but come on, they dropped, while UCF didn't, they just had to save one pyramid.

Oh well. :)

Where can I find more info about pro-cheering? Would I have to look up the requirements on the team websites? I'm not sure where I'm going to be living come graduation, but it sounds like a lot of fun. I'll probably need to grow my hair before I try out...(none of those girls ever have shorter hair :( )

If the Pittsburgh Steelers had pro-cheerleaders, I would be in heaven.

hEY Bro2b, I cheered for the last 3 years, but we go to NCA Nationals in Daytona(not UCA) Although my freshmen year one of my friends on my team was UCA staff, the rest are NCA.(I know what yu mean though, at NCA it seems like people always want Louisville to not win, and the last time I was there they did not and had to burn their champion pre made gear on the beach)
Moxie, just go online and search professional cheerleaders, you should find a list of all the teams, as far as requirements, there are usually no specific, except age, and high school or GED, most are more geared towards dance, although last year when I practiced with a Pro team here, we worked on some stunts(nothing spectacular just some all girl extensions, at which they were amazed with people who could base or fly easily) Just work on your flexibility, like splits and high kicks, and maybe take up an adult jazz class. Give yourself at least two months on a workout program before hand, mostly cardio and work your abs. Good luck!

I have a confession. I was a cheerleader also . . . I try not to admit it to many people, but confession is good for the soul.

Also, for those of you interested in cheering after college, there are regional and allstar teams all over the place that go to competitions. And you can do it until you are 80+.

Just an FYI.

I cant see it. I just cant see it. It's like seeing KABM as a cheerleader. I just cant. Ow, its making my head hurt. I'm going to quit trying now.

"...not that theres anything wrong with that."


;)

James, don't hang your head! I too was a university cheerleader and in looking back, am very proud of that. I made some great friends--it was almost like a coed fraternity--and some great contacts as well. I had some super, never-to-be-forgotten experiences too!

I have 2 daughters cheering for coed all-star squads now. If they want to go on and cheer in college I'll support them but I'd insist that they pay a liiiittle more attention to grades than I did!:D

LOL, I know the horror ! The Shame ! Imagine having to go through endless practices lifting and putting your hands all over petite girls. Utter degradation! :eek: And damn, those hands slip every now and again . . . :p

Yes they do.....hence my stunt partner and I now have a 2 year old son. We swear we are going to get a phone call from the school on his first day of kindergarden..."You need to come get your son, he is insisting that he can grab any little girl by the waist and throw her up in the air"....maybe our dreams will come true....of Course we'll have to move to Memphis and pay the tuition (which I'm sure is through the roof) at Christian Brothers...oh well, sometimes you have to make sacrifices for your kids... :)