-Spunky Cheerleaders Provide Pep

*I.E.K.H.S Cheerleaders*

*Lady Rays*

By. Dijah A.

Do you have the spirit? Every school needs a little support from its students who will represent in the best way possible and build up their school spirit. That is the job of the Cheerleading Squad.

Since opening in 1971, Kean’s Cheerleading Squad has been known for doing a wonderful job in representing their school. Mrs. Melissa Bump, the former cheerleading chairwoman said, “The Kean cheerleaders are hardworking, talented young ladies.”

Kean Cheerleaders take cheering very seriously. Neferteri Callwood, a Kean cheerleader said, “For the past three years I’ve taken cheerleading as serious as Kobe takes basketball. I think that it is a very important skill and I LOVE it.”

The girls on the squad have busy schedules, but they always make time to practice, according to Mrs. Rosaline Randolph, the Cheerleading Squad coach. “We practice Monday-Thursday from 3:30 p.m - 4:40 p.m. and on weekends or holidays if necessary,” she added.

There are 20 girls on the squad, according to Ms. Randolph. The girls, who have recently auditioned, have been proving themselves worthy of becoming a Kean Cheerleader. The first football game against C.A.H.S. happened to be Tamra George’s official try-out. She happily made it.

Ms. Randolph said, “Try-outs are normally at the ending of the school year. If the ending of the school year becomes too hectic, then try-outs are held in the beginning of the year.”

In order to try-out, a boy or girl has to learn three cheers and a jump, then perform what he/she has learned in front of five judges who are teachers at the school.

Cheerleaders at any school must learn how to cheer, jump, smile, and “be stiff,” which means keeping the hands straight so they don’t flap around.

Ms. Randolph said, “Every year we go to camp and learn new jumps, cheers, dances, flips, and stunts.” In 2009, two United Cheerleading Association (UCA) members spent a week at UVI teaching ten Kean cheerleaders and the Antilles cheerleading captain dances, chants, and stunts.

Everyone loves to see something new and fresh from the cheerleaders, whether it’s new moves, new cheers, or new uniforms. In 2009, after the girls came back from camp at UVI, they performed two new dances and a few new cheers that they had learned at camp.

Even with all their hard work, Kordell Robb, a Devil Ray football receiver, said, “The squad needs new moves.”

Cheerleaders are entitled to cheer for as many sports as possible for Kean. Ms. Randolph said, “Due to scheduling and money, they cheer for mostly football, but still cheer for basketball.”

Cheerleaders go away to compete or cheer with their team when they go off island to play, but for some reason the Kean Cheerleaders haven’t been that lucky for years. According to Mr. Seipel, the reason is, “There is not enough funding to send the cheerleaders along with the team.”

In November the football players went to St. Croix to play against the St. Croix’s Central Pirates. Although Randolph called a week before the game, “When I called the Education Department, they told me it was too late for us to go,” she said.

“Fundraising [activities] and the Athletic Dept. are funding the cheerleaders, but unfortunately they don’t always get enough funding,” said Mr. Seipel. “These girls do an AMAZING job even with very little funding ; I'm very impressed,” he added.

The last time the girls got new uniforms was in 2009 when they received their very first set of sparkly gold uniforms with maroon on the inside of the skirt. (So even if the girls flip their skirts, the school colors will be shown proudly.) “It would be very nice, but unfortunately our girls can’t get new uniforms every year,” Mr. Seipel.

Even with a losing football team, the girls cheer from beginning to end of every game. Robb said, “If the girls didn’t have spirit, they should try and put faith in our school, even when losing!”

Mr. Seipel stated, “The girls have lots school spirit, but they could use a little more!”

Ms. Randolph disagreed. “My girls have got ALL that Spirit,” she added, reciting one of the cheers. “My girls are coming along, but every team has its problems, whether it’s arguing or a little discipline, but no matter what, they always get themselves back in order and ready to cheer.” Randolph added, “Go Lady Rays.”