OSU cheerleading is divided into two squads: the large co-ed squad and the small co-ed squad.
Whether it’s competing on a national stage, representing their school or just flying through the air with a spin on the way down, OSU cheerleaders say the spirit squad fulfills their dreams.
The spirit squad is split into two sections — large co-ed squad and small co-ed squad. Both squads have 24 members, but the “small” co-ed squad is not affiliated with the athletic department and doesn’t appear at games. It competes at the national cheerleading championships with the large squad.
Heidi Phillips is a member of the large squad. She said the squad requires a lot of practice, but getting to cheer at OSU games and meet with fans makes the hard work worth it.
“We also have a lot of children who come up and want our autographs and want to take pictures with us,” Phillips said. “We’re not celebrities but it sure feels like it when they come and take pictures with us.”
Phillips, a family life education junior, cheered at Trinity Valley Community college in Texas and at her high school in Athens, Texas. She also cheered with an All-Star team in the ninth grade.
“The biggest stereotype is that cheerleading isn’t a sport,” Phillips said. “The amount of effort we put into the sport, the way we beat up on our bodies, we bend and flip, it’s hard. Not everyone can hold a girl above their heads. Sometimes the football players’ll say, ‘Oh, I could do that, I could hold a girl over my head,’ but it takes skill, not just strength.”
The small squad is as competitive and committed as the squad that takes Lewis Field, if not more.
Brittany Behymer, a psychology freshman, is on the small squad.
She said the squad fits her competitive focus.
“Even getting stuff done in practice is easier in college because the people are there to competitive cheer,” Behymer said.
Behymer said she was nervous at tryouts.
“It was very nervewracking, I remember that,” she said. “The first two days of cheer clinic, we learned the fight song and practiced skills. The first day was open and so there were family and friends there. We waited two hours before they told us who was on the squad. I was excited but so nervous.”
The work isn’t over once a student makes it on the squad. Rookie cheerleaders are expected to work hard to maintain their skills and learn new ones, cheerleading coach Leroy McCullough said.
“It’s pretty competitive, making our team,” McCullough said. “We have talented kids from all over the region, the state, even the country trying out. Everyone has to try out every year. Once you make it doesn’t guarantee that they’ll stay on. That keeps our level high.”
Phillips said she’s improved since she made the squad. The cheerleaders must maintain a 2.25 GPA, appear at various events during the year apart from games and work on skills.
Phillips said there’s also a weight requirement. The female cheerleaders must maintain 19 percent body fat and the male cheeerleaders must keep their body at or below 15 percent.
Behymer said she competed in gymnastics for almost 10 years and loves to tumble. She doesn’t mind practicing for three hours twice a week to improve her skills.
“I love any sort of tumbling, twisting, especially fulls,” she said. “A full is a back flip with a 360 twist. I can do doubles but they’re illegal in the college level.”
The OSU Spirit Squad will show its routines for the National Cheerleading Association Collegiate championships on April 6 at 6p.m. in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The facebook event, “Cheerleading National Showoff 2008” has 195 attendees.
Behymer said she can’t wait to compete in the championships.
“Yes, I’m excited, like words can’t describe,” she said.
Phillips said being an OSU cheerleader is even better than she expected, even the night practices before finals week.
“There’s a lot of sacrifice in this sport, but cheering at the football games and looking up and seeing all the orange, that’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever been a part of,” Phillips said.
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