Rewards of cheerleading spring from crowd reaction, life lessons It is minutes before the game and the Harding Bisons are receiving last-minute instructions from the coaches, fans are beginning to fill the stands anticipating victory and, over the noise of the crowd, the Bison cheerleaders are yelling, "Go! Fight! Win! Bisons. Go! Fight! Win! 'i. Many students have no idea the amount ofdedication and hard work that is put into being a cheerleader. In addition to the grueling practices and long road trips, a Bison cheerleader must maintain a 2.0 G.P.A and know how to be a gracious host. Senior accounting major and 1996 football cheerleader , Shelley Allison, said, "A cheerleader is an ambassador. When the team plays at away games , we represent the student body that isn't present." Harding holds separate tryouts for cheerleaders for football and basketball. This year 's football cheerleaders were Miriam Dodson, Shelley Allison, Laurie Snow, Misty Jones , Brenda Hinman, Carmen Allison, J analyn Williams and Allison Travis. Repeating for basketball were Dodson and Williams ,who were joined by Mendi Clothier, Summer Daniel, Torri Predmore, Carla Redd, Carrie Thetford and Amber Keilers. Ajunior advertising major, Williams has been a cheerleader since she was in the fourth grade and has cheered five seasons for the Bisons. "I believe in Harding and all the players on our team. The work that they put into their sport is intense and, when the game isn't going so well, it is good for them to hear that we, the cheerleaders and the students, believe in them," Williams said. One of the responsibilities of being a cheerleader is to go to every game played by the Bisons. Williams said that basketball season is the hardest to deal with because the games are in the middle of the week. "Sometimes we don't get back to school until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. It is really hard to cram for tests and maintain your grades, but if you stay up on your school work, it is no problem. You learn how to make road trips work for you. " The reward ofbeing a cheerleader comes not from the recognition, but from the thrill of seeing a crowd rise to its feet in excitement, Allison said. "When the band is playing and the fans are cheering is when I realize why I am a cheerleader." Being a cheerleader teaches important lessons for life. Williams said that one of the most valuable assets of being a cheerleader has been learning teamwork and compromise. "You have to have the initiative to get things done. Making everyone happy is a good goal , but it doesn 't always happen. You have to learn people skills and ways to solve problems quickly." Allison agreed; "The teamwork that I have learned as a cheerleader is irreplaceable." In the intensity ofcompetitions, whether ending in victory or defeat, the cheerleaders remained loyal and spirited, setting an example of what being a Bison fan was all about. - Rebecca West "One of our jobs as cheerleaders is to promote school spirit. Every time I get in front ofa crowd, I hope to get them involved in leading the team to victory. I feel honored to represent Harding." - Miriam Dodson 266 Cheerleaders The cheerleaders keep the crowd p umped at an exciting basketball game. One of the responsibilities of the cheerleaders is to go to every Bison game. Photo by Aaron Gill ihan.
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