As inspirational leaders, crowd pleasers, attention grabbers and motivators, cheerleaders are assets to any game.
“A lot of people don’t look at us as athletes, we work year-round, we are always doing something,” said Verdie Batiste, a junior secondary education major.
Cheerleaders push themselves so they can be on the same level with the athletes they support. They train, condition and workout in the weight room three times a week. Many cheerleaders don’t obtain jobs, because adhering to their passion for cheering can become one.
“They take a lot of time to be professionals and to make sure it is right,” said Maggie Smith, mother of James Smith, the cheerleading director. “We try to give our team what it needs, they are there to motivate the team to be better, lead the crowd and be good liaisons for the university.”Their hard work and dedication has not gone without rewards.
The SU cheerleaders have held three titles as Grand Champions at the Black College National Championship 1998, 1999 and 2000. Many of the cheerleaders have also excelled individually. Wallace Britton and Melisha Jenkins were the 2003-04 Black College National partner stunt champions. In individual cheer at the Black College Nationals SU placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place.
“It helps us as a squad, It brings us back to how things should be,” said Bryan Johnson,— a senior Baton Rouge native majoring in therapeutic recreation. “The squad is like a family. The way we act on the field is the way we act off,” said Johnson.
The student’s could not have accomplished any of these things on his or her own. Their director James Smith was awarded 2003-04 Black Coach of the year. “The competitions give national exposure for people who have never seen SU,” said Smith.
