By
Connor Doyle
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA cheerleaders attempt to break down stereotypes
It's March 1, and the UA men's basketball team is playing the Oregon State Beavers in front of an apathetic crowd in McKale Center. The pace of the game is as sleepy as the fans, and there's little hope that things are going to get any more exciting as the game wears on.
The only sounds in the stadium are the squeaks of the sneakers, the pounding of the ball when dribbled and Arizona cheerleaders trying to get a "U-OF-A" chant going between three sections.
Unfortunately, theirs was a losing battle that night, as many of the fans either dozed off in their seats or left once the game had been decided.
Thus is the nature of being a cheerleader - the men and women have to remain excited whether it's a one-point game with a minute left or a 20-point blowout by halftime.
It can be a losing battle, but it's one that they cherish.
Cheerleading is an enigma at UA. Even those that appreciate it have no idea how demanding being a cheerleader at Arizona can be, and even fewer can appreciate what makes it such a rewarding experience.
Jumping in
Mike Lillie, an operations management junior, came to UA after being a starting defensive lineman at his high school in Yuma.
However, he figured that he couldn't make the UA football team because of his size and saw cheerleading as a good way to stay in shape and remain involved in athletics.
"I had no clue what it was about, I just jumped into it," he said.
Lillie quickly found out that he was going to become a part of one of the most high-profile squads on campus.
However, that profile doesn't necessarily lead to respect.
Cheerleaders say that they aren't considered to be "athletes" in the typical sense by many people, some of whom don't even consider cheerleading to be a sport.
This isn't a view shared by Courtney Simons, a retail senior on the squad.
"I think cheerleading is becoming more accepted as a sport." she said. "When you look at the competitions that they show on ESPN, there's nothing about it that's not a sport."
Simons also thinks that many of the stereotypes about female cheerleaders are slowly losing their validity.
"I think, in the past, cheerleading has been more about tiny girls, and I think it's been more of an image thing, and I think today's cheerleaders are more of athletes."
Simons added that the traditional stereotype of a female cheerleader's build - short and skinny - has been done away with at UA.
"Our program has really stressed that it's not about our size, it's not about being thin - it's about being an athlete," she said. "Athletes come in all shapes and sizes, and our coach (Lawrence Murray) has done a really good job stressing that."
The UA male cheerleaders say that they may face more stereotyping than their female counterparts do. There are plenty of misconceptions about male cheerleaders, few of which are kind.
"It's different for the guys - a lot of people are just plain ignorant." said Robert Scoby, a biochemistry sophomore and cheerleader. "A lot of people don't think this is very masculine, but I think this is very masculine. We do get a lot of people hating on us, but everyone loves the girls."
Despite the public misconceptions, physiology senior Jason Quan said Arizona's cheerleaders are well-respected by UA's other athletes.
"A lot of student athletes come up to us while we're in the weight room and say, 'We have a lot of respect for you guys for coming in here and lifting and staying in shape,'" he said.
Simons agreed. "Most guys can't hold someone up with one arm."
The cheerleaders on the squad can attest to the amount of work that goes into preparing for their performances.
Kristen Hirohata, a marketing junior, says the workout regimen for both the guys and the girls is just as grueling as in any other varsity sport.
"We train year round, weightlifting and conditioning," she said. "We have physical fitness tests throughout the year."
Off the court
There's another side to what the UA cheerleaders do, and it's not well known among the students, who may think they only perform at games. The squad often finds itself representing the UA in the community through various public appearances and visits to local schools and hospitals.
"Cheerleading takes a lot of time - we have about four to five appearances a week," Scoby said. "It's about two hours an appearance, and it's even more for the mascot, who's also considered a cheerleader."
Quan agreed.
"It's like having a full-time job in addition to practicing and going to school," he said, adding, "It's still a really good experience."
Some members of the squad say that cheerleaders serve as good-will ambassadors for the school, especially when it comes to charity work.
"I think it's important that we serve as the liaison between the community and UA Athletics." Hirohata said. "I think it's great that we get out there in the community and make a huge difference in so many people's lives. That's what makes me feel so good."
Simons says the UA's importance in the city instantly makes the cheerleaders celebrities on and off campus.
"We take trips to hospitals, and kids brighten up when we walk in the room," she says. "This is it for Tucson - the UA is everything, and the student athletes here are the closest things to celebrities that these kids have."
After graduation
Unlike most other varsity sports, cheerleading doesn't necessarily provide a pipeline to a professional level.
Quan, Hirohata and Scoby all say that that cheer was a college-only experience. Simons and Lillie are both interested in instructing down the road, but they would likely consider it more of a hobby than a profession.
In the end, most cheerleaders hope that their school spirit rubs off during the course of their four years roaming the sidelines.
"We would love to hear people yelling and talking more 'smack'," Quan said. Lillie added, "We need all the help we can get. Get loud and help your team win."
