Issue date: 9/24/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jason Finley Hornet Cheerleaders pump up the crowd during a kickoff. [Click to enlarge]

Last year, the Sacramento State Cheerleading team received third place in the UCA College National Championships. This year the team has 18 returning cheerleaders and is trying to qualify for the Championships once again.

"Our entire Sunday practices are focused on training for competition. We're taking tapes of ourselves cheering at games." said Bobby Berr, head coach for the cheerleading team.

Berr said the team is filled with new recruits who will improve the team's chances at the national level.

"As a team we keep getting stronger. This will be a good year (because) we gained a lot of new people," said cheerleader Taylor Reynold. "We have always had the ability to win, we just need to go out and do it."

Many members of the team are also confident of the team's success.

"We're going to get first place," said first year cheerleader Cori Thomas.

The UCA National competition will begin in mid-January.

Berr said that while the team is working very hard at nationals, the highest priority for the team is still cheering and supporting the school.

"We want to create that frenzy-type college spirit," said Berr. "We're slowly building getting people to support, we're trying to get everyone involved."

Jacqui Way, a second year cheerleader agreed. "We involve the crowd, the alumni, we hit every group of people."

During practice the team will focus on flipping, twisting and trying to put people on top so that the crowd can see.

"Physically, we focus on things the crowd will react to," said Berr.

Fred Kelley, the offense assistant coach for Sacramento State Football team, said that the cheerleading team builds crowd support for the football team during the games. "They keep everybody hyped up, they keep the crowd going," said Kelley.

Student Josh Comprendio, who has also watched the team cheer at games, agreed. Comprendio said the team boosts morale and makes people feel proud of going to Sacramento State.

" By chanting and engaging the crowd.. they make you feel good," said Comprendio, " Its like your'e just not watching the crowd, your'e part of the game."

The team cheers at the Sac State football, volleyball, and men and women's basketball games. In addition to cheering, the Sac State cheerleading team also participates in fundraisers for cancer and heart patients, local high schools and youth football teams.

Despite all the games the team cheer at, many Sac State cheerleaders feel that people don't understand how hard the team works.

"I don't think people really understand cheerleading," said cheerleader David Benjamin. "We compete while cheering and supporting our school… we train and train for months and since we only got one competition we can't mess up."

Way agreed and also said that many people have preconceived notions about cheerleaders. "We're real serious…it's just not the skirt, it's hard work."

Ryan McCallum, Assistant Coordinator of Recreational Sports, believes the cheerleading team is hardworking and therefore deserving of the schools respect.

" I think we need to see more students at the games," said Ryan McCallum , " So they(cheerleading team) can reap the rewards of what they do."

Zaki Syed can be reached at zsyed@statehornet.com

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