Haley Vossman, a graduating senior and one of the team leaders on the Cal Poly Cheer Team, talks about her love for the sport of cheerleading and her experience being on the team. After doing competitive gymnastics for most of her childhood and then transferring over to cheer for the next seven years, she doesn’t feel ready to say goodbye to the sport that shaped her into the individual she is today. After graduating from high school, she thought that would be the end of her cheer journey; however, she realized during her first year of college that something was missing. She wasn’t quite ready to finish off her athletic journey as a cheerleader.
Vossman discovered that joining the Cal Poly Cheer Team her second year was one of the best decisions she had ever made. She was able to continue to tumble, stunt, and build pyramids. She was able to cheer on her favorite sports team in all of their games from the sidelines. Most importantly, she formed some of the best friendships with her teammates.
One aspect of cheer at Cal Poly that Vossman feels needs to change is its non-recognition as a sport. Cheerleading is not considered a sport at Cal Poly, so these student athletes do not receive any of the benefits that every other sports team is granted. Cheer is under “spirit teams” on the Athletics Homepage and is considered a club. Click here to view the Cal Poly Athletics Page to see the official sports at Cal Poly and the other spirit teams. Notice how band is categorized as a “spirit team?” They too receive priority registration. The Cheer Team does not get priority registration or any of the other student-athlete benefits such as free tutoring, academic advisors, and easy access to athletic trainers.
Cheerleading has grown into becoming a sport in the last decade. A new division of cheerleading called STUNT has been created. According to the Stunt Association, “STUNT is the fastest growing female sport in the country, that removes the crowd-leading element and focuses on the technical and athletic components of cheer including partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, group jumps and tumbling.” Click here to learn more about STUNT.
Cheerleading should be considered a sport at Cal Poly not only because of the athleticism it takes to be a cheerleader, but also the competitive nature of cheer as seen in STUNT matches. Still not convinced that cheerleading is a sport? Click here.
This season of STUNT was one of the most successful years Cal Poly Cheer has had in awhile. Vossman explains that the team made it to STUNT Nationals in Oklahoma. This was the main goal for the Cal Poly Cheer Team this year! They came out 4th in the nation. Additionally, Cal Poly’s Head Cheer Coach, Annette Laron-Picket, was recognized as Division One Coach of the Year by the STUNT Association.
To make STUNT an official sport, click here to sign the petition!
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