258 /I athletics 0)0 AS .~~ t ~ £ increase fan enthusias Anewmember joined the cheerleading squad on the sideline during football season. Buff the Bison, Harding's new mascot, pro– vided entertainment·as he interacted with cheer– leaders and fans in the stands. "1 love that we've brought the mascot back to the games," senior Jamie Hughes said. "I just hope that we can work together and come up with new things to do during games." Sophomore Jonathan Freese presented the idea of reviving the school mascot this fall to the cheerleaders. The cheerleading squad, along with Buff, increased fan enthusiasmby perform– ing cheers and stunts and providing T-shirts and plastic footballs. "We want to keep crowds involved during games," Hughes said. "If we build enthusiasm and spirit off the field, the team will know we support them on the field. Buff helps create excitement during games." To continue building fan enthusiasm into bas– ketball season, the cheerleading squad worked with the pep band to increase the possibilities o routines performed during games. "We've really been working hard with the band to come up with more upbeat songs becaus sometimes some of the songs the band perform do not really cater to cheerleading routines well," cheerleading advisor Kellee Blickenstaff said. "We've even picked some of the songs so that we can do more routines to keep the Rhode Rowdies rowdy," she said. The cheerleaders comntitted themselves to increasing support of school sporting events. "Cheerleading is more difficult than some people think," Hughes said. "We commit mor time to practice than some people realize." The squad's dedication and commitmen allowed the members to perform advanced stunts and routines. "The skills of the girls this year have been more advanced technically than that of prio years," Blinkenstaff said. -Emily San
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