Cheerleaders should be seen as athletes

Tah, Rah, Rah! Hawk, Hawk, Hawk! W-M-S! Boom, Boom, Boom! Aaaaaaahhh!!! Wredling! Wredling! Wredling!

Is this all that cheerleaders are?

I believe cheerleading is a sport.

It is a physically demanding activity. You are always running and doing something that is considered active. You need to do at least 45 minutes of stretches a day and you need to stretch before doing any physical activity. You need to take the time to practice and you need great effort.

Most cheerleading teams go to competition. They cheer in front of thousands, many of them strangers. They wear team uniforms just like the football players do. Cheerleaders go all around the world to do competitions.

Cheerleaders have to be flexible. They have to go to practice every day to work on their pyramids, cartwheels, flyers and round-offs, all without pads.

Some people think cheerleaders are just some girls who prance around in some little uniform.

As a seventh-grader at Wredling, I believe cheerleading should be noticed as a sport.

Samantha Point

South Elgin