Five new freshmen and winning records for the football and basketball team s made this year a unique season for the Harding cheerleaders. More than half the 14-member squad was new to cheerleading at Harding, making this a transi– tion year for the squad. "This is the YOlmgest squad ever," coach Kellee Blickenstaff said. Each of the new girls cheered for her high school and dealtwith the adjustment ofcheering in college. "Cheerleading in college takes a lot of time and dedication:' freshman Whitney Heid said. "We practice every day and cheer every week– end . If my friends are going home or to a Razor– back game, l can't. Your heart has to be in it." for HeidI the maindifferencebetween cheer– ing in high school and college was the Christian atmosphere, she said. "In high school, girls on the squad didn't really get along," Heid said. "Here atHarding, it is reatly neat being on a squad with a group of Christian girls. They are not only my teammates, but also my support system. We put in so much work together and we know each other sowell." Senior Hailee Augsburger, captain of the squad, tried to keep the squad members on task. "1 have really enjoyed working with all the ""l"l T VVe always stretch, warm up our tum– bling and prac– tice our stunts. And we always pray before each game starts." • • 256 athletics girls," Augsburger said. "With so many new members of the team, we have spent a lot of time working with stunt groups and getting used to each other." With the football and basketball teams' win– ning seasons, enthusiasm was not difficult to find on the squad. "We have had compliments on our level of enthusiasm this season," Augsburger said. "I think thatmoreof the girls thinkofbeingon the squad as a privilege and not an obligation. Instead of thinking 'I have to be there: more of them think 'I get to be there.' This makes a big difference." The cheerleaders also modeled school spirit between games. Theydecorated cars and locker rooms, made barmers and filled spirit bags with candy to motivate the teams. The squad hoped its success would con– tinue for years to come. " If it continues how it's going, we will con– tinu e to better ourselves as a sg uad," Blickenstaff said. "Interest is increasing and I think that cheedeading is doing a great thing for school spirit. The cheerleaders show that having school spirit is something fun to be a part of." - Kerri Dutile • • (Photo by Chrissy Ingram) A trio of cheerleaders lifts junior Jamie Hughes during a break in the action at the basketball game against Arkansas Tech Jan. 30. Hughes, in her third year of cheering at Harding, led as one of the captains of the squad. (Photo by Linsdey Taliaferro) cheerleaders After finishing a cheer during a Sison timeout, junior Tressa Tucker, sophomore LaToya Riley and freshman Emily Ann Dumas walk off the basketball court Jan. 13. The cheerleaders cheered on both the football and basketball teams to winning seasons this year. (Photo by Lindsey Taliaferro)
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