It’s time to cheer for those who cheer. People might say that cheer isn’t a sport because “all they do is stand there and move their arms,” but cheer is one of the most dangerous sports with close to 20,000 injuries per year (Cirjak). Cheer should be considered a sport because it requires the same strength and skill as any other sport. 

Cheerleaders provide support and positivity during and after games no matter the outcome. Although they use their personal time to support sports, they rarely get appreciation or even a mention of gratitude for their efforts. Not only do cheerleaders show up to support sports they also do cheer competitions throughout the year. For example, at the end of football season the cheerleaders went to a cheer competition at Thomas Moore Prep high school and received a 1 rating (the best you can get) and also received first place for best crowd leading. 

According to Valerie Ninemire in an article she wrote for The Healthy Journal, “Cheerleading is physically demanding; in fact, it can be tougher than some varsity sports. That’s because cheerleaders must be as strong and flexible as gymnasts, as graceful as dancers, and have the lung capacity of runners.” Ninemire also stated that “Cheer involves a balance of cardio, resistance, flexibility and endurance training. Mental strength goes further than powering through a workout. The mental strength learned through cheerleading lasts a lifetime, as mental toughness can be applied to everyday situations where the desire to give up is tempting.”

Before the school year even starts the Larned high school cheer team has a 2-3 day camp to learn cheers, stunts, dances, and how to grab the crowd’s attention. The cheer team practices 3 times a week for an hour and half before football season starts. They use this time to learn cheers, which requires a good memory as well as having proper form. Cheerleaders learn stunts which take strength, balance, a confident mind and even flexibility. Even when a stunt falls time and time again they still continue to try until the stunt hits. Cheer athletes also practice their performance for their halftime show later into football season, which includes a dance and cheer if not two and stunts which take time and patience to learn.

When asked what she’d change about games, senior Cassidy Ary stated, “I wouldn’t really change anything other than getting more people to come.”  I think she speaks for everyone when she says that she loves the student section and feels like they appreciate the cheerleaders quite a bit when they start cheering along with them. Camryn Wachs stated, “I wish we could go to KSHAA nationals for cheer.” The reason behind Wachs’ desire to go to nationals is it is the only way to get an actual placement rather than a ranking. If the cheer team places at nationals, the hope is that placing would get more people’s attention and prove to them that cheer is a sport that can be physically and mentally tough. In short, cheerleaders want more appreciation and gratitude for their devotion to their sport.

Works Cited

“Is cheerleading a hard sport?” The Healthy Journal, https://www.thehealthyjournal.com/faq/is-cheerleading-a-hard-sport. Accessed 7 March 2023.

“Top 10 Most Dangerous Sports In The World.” World Atlas, 31 July 2020, https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/top-10-most-dangerous-sports-in-the-world.html. Accessed 7 March 2023.