Danyel Fogarty
Staff Writer
The University of La Verne cheer squad might perform on the sidelines, but it plays an active role at cheerleading competitions.
Not only did the cheerleaders attend every football and basketball game but they also supported every athletic team at the University while preparing for their own competitions.
The squad started off with 24 women, the biggest it has ever been, and currently there are 17 women on the squad.
Last year, captain Sarah Davis turned the squad around into a competing squad and made it into something the Leopards can to be proud of.
“Competing builds bonds and its something we could do ourselves.” Davis said.
The squad competed in three competitions this year; traveling to Las Vegas two weekends in a row at the end of February, and also competing in Irvine on March 13.
The first competition at the Las Vegas Convention Center was against all Division I schools and ULV did not place.
“Even though we did not place in the first competition, it was a great learning experience because a lot of us had never been to a competition,” said Erica Davila, a member of the squad.
At the second competition in Las Vegas, the girls took home first place in the Cheerleaders of America competition.
ULV’s cheer squad placed third at the Irvine competition.
In order to prepare for the competitions, the squad practiced four times a week for two hours and also did weight training four days a week for one hour.
“About half of the girls on the squad had no cheer experience before this year, but by the time football season we really looked like a strong squad,” Kimberly Landis said.
Davis is graduating this year and turning over her position as captain to four women, Landis, Andrea Garcia, Kelly Cruz and Connie Elejalde.
“From the beginning of the year these girls showed dedication and took care of the finances and had great leadership skills,” Davis said. “They proved to me they could get the job done,”
The squad credits Davis’ leadership to their success and said she will be missed.
“Sarah is an inspiration to us all,” Garcia said. “Its amazing how she juggles her time not just for cheer but for ULV as a whole.”
Garcia’s goal for next year is to try to increase school pride.
“We would enjoy cheer much more if the people in the crowd would cheer with us during the games,” Garcia said.
Next year the ULV cheerleaders plan on having an even stronger squad.
“We are getting a lot of feedback from other schools as well as high schools about our cheer squad,” Landis said.
The squad is optimistic for the upcoming year and hopes to see a larger, more diverse team, to set ULV apart from their competition.
“If ULV has a good cheer squad girls and boys might choose ULV over another school,” Davis said.
During Spotlight Weekend on April 14-16 the squad is going to try to recruit men and women to try out.
The squad hopes to start off their next season strong.
“We hope to have 25 people on the squad next year,” Garcia said. “To start bigger is better because throughout the year you end up losing girls.”
Tryouts will be held in May.
Danyel Fogarty can be reached at sadeyez619@hotmail.com.
