- , Great school spirit and a good team give the cheerleaders a reason to cheer It's the biggest game of the year. Students, faculty and other well -wishers come in droves to support their favorite players. The home team is tough, but the challengers put up a good fight. The score is tied, and the tension mounts before the capacity crowd. What can make the difference for this all-important match up? Harding's cheerleaders know the answer comes from lifting the spirits of their team and the fans. The cheerleaders work throughout the year, but two squads split the duties. First come those who help to fire up Alumni Field, the football cheerleaders, led this year by captain Stephanie Hammitt and co-captain Ashley Jones. From the hazy summer days in August through the nippy Saturdays ofNovember, the football cheerleaders ' work is the result of much dedication to their purpose. That purpose is very clear to Hammitt. "We don't just lead a cheer out there; we try to lead and boost the spirit of everyone who comes to the games," Hammitt said. "All of us have a lot of fun with it, and we try to help the team make the games something fun for everyone. " Co-captain Jones agreed, noting that helping to create the frenzied atmosphere is one of the pluses of being a cheerleader. "It's great to be able to get these people together and to pump up everyone 's morale, " she said. Just as the sun begins setting earlier and the chilling north winds blow a little harder, the Football Cheerleaders. First Row: Ashley Jones, Miriam Dodson. Second Row: Allyson Ballinger, LaurieRydl, Janalyn Williams, Allison Travis. Third Row: Stephanie Hammitt, ShelleyAllison. Photo by JeffMontgomery. Cheerleaders crew that works the crowds at Ganus Athletic Center gets into action. From the final weeks of fall until the sweltering nights in late spring, Captain Janalyn Williams, co-captain Miriam Dodson, and the rest of the basketball cheerleaders can sympathize well with their football counterparts. They, too, have hectic schedules which include practices, trips and performances that keep them focused and on their toes. Like Hammitt, the energetic Williams stays focused on serving the fans. "At times , it can be very intimidating to know you ' ll be at least partly responsible for getting that crowd to go crazy," Williams said. "It 's not only a very active job but also a very visible one. What keeps us going, I think, is the reaction we get from the fans and the team members. " Likewise, Dodson stresses the fun that can come from the hard work. "Every time we go out onto the floor is a test of our skills, just as much as it is for the players. The audience is waiting to see whether we pass or fail. When we get a great response from the crowd, it really gives all of us a new source of energy, and we all appreciate that. " For Harding's cheerleaders, the mark of a job well done is much more than a catchy cheer or the fleeting commotion of a crowd. Bringing people together to support each other is at the core of their job, and they would not have it any other way. - Eric Rogers 272 ~.~~S-po-r~ts~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-
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