Cheerleaders help fans stay in game

DUBUQUE - We've all seen the bows around the halls. We've all heard them at the games. We've felt the comradery brought about by their chants and stunts.

Cheerleaders are a key component in our school spirit, but how often do Wahlert students actually recognize that?

Cheerleaders are enthusiastic and vocal supporters for our sports teams at Wahlert, but people don't often stop and think about how significant their role really is. All the students in the Eagles' Nest are removed from the game, but the cheerleaders bring us in.

'Even when the team is losing, the mercy rule is in effect, and the crowd is bored, the cheerleaders never stop encouraging the players and trying to engage the crowd,” said junior Bridget Sullivan.

There has been much controversy in recent years over whether or not cheerleading should be considered a sport. A federal appeals court ruled it shouldn't be, but that only sparked a more fiery debate.

Sullivan claims it should be a sport because of the strength and conditioning that is required of cheerleaders.

'If lifting, throwing and catching a person isn't athletic, I don't know what is,” Sullivan said.

It also can be argued cheerleading does not completely meet the definition. Though it does require athletic skill, cheerleading is not a competition and is, therefore, not a sport.

Spirit is a huge part of what makes the Wahlert community as tight-knit as it is, and cheerleaders are major proponents of that spirit.

Freshman Audra McMahon put it best when asked why she likes being a cheerleader.

'It just makes me happy,” she said. 'Everyone on the team is happy, and that makes me, well, happy.”