Opinion Editor- Soph White
Brrrrr! It’s cold in here. It must be some Gusties in the atmosphere! Two, four, six, eight! Who do we appreciate? It’s Gustie Cheer! Enough about other sports, let us make way for cheer—one of the most disciplined and graceful sports known to humankind. If you were heavily invested in the Netflix series about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, you might be shocked to find out that cheerleading looks different and more inclusive on this campus than this elaborately decorated team.
Unfortunately, cheerleading has not been a sport showcased at Gustavus for much of the past few years. Football games have been lacking the school spirit that comes with the enthusiastic performance of cheerleaders. Indeed, there is an overall deep sense of pride Gusties have about their experience at Gustavus, but where else is that deep sense of pride brought to the surface but in the unification of arts and sport. This is what a liberal arts education is all about: bringing the different interests of the individual into a workable reality. We have been without our best example of this outspoken pride for too long.
Yet, in the face of a post-pandemic world full of absence, Gustie Cheer is making a comeback as an organization run by two students: Sophomore Emma Zoeller, whose experience as a Stewartville Tiger cheerleader, and Sophomore Olivia White, whose background in gymnastics and as a Lincoln High Links cheerleader has built a team skilled with gorgeous high kicks.
It has been in full swing since last fall’s football season. They are continuing their journey to flip, fly, and shake pom-poms at our last few women’s and men’s basketball games. If you are as excited as I am, you’d better make it to their last few home games with the next happening on Jan. 31st, where you might come for the basketball, but keep coming back for the cheer.
The Cheer team is open to all skill levels and talents – even if your skill is school pride. No prior experience in cheerleading is required, but if you are inclined to dance and find joy in performance, then this might be the commitment you’ve been looking for.
Sophomore Olivia White, co-captain of the Gustavus cheerleaders, informed me that she feels that “cheer helps [her] feel tangibly involved in school spirit.” She shared that in coming into college for her first year, she feels lucky to have “such a fun environment” with “great friends as teammates.” In spending time with some of the Gustavus cheerleaders, I can attest to this fun environment and just how close these women are to one another. In contrast to your average Disney cheerleader, these ladies are not mean girls. They are some of the nicest, most supportive individuals at the school.
Keep an eye out, because they’ll be looking for more cheerleaders for next year’s cheer season with a lot of games on the docket. Practices, in the fall, are twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on most evenings. Spring practices are every Tuesday, at the same time, in the aerobics studio, which is in Lund 277. Find courage and learn a new skill or continue a skill that you’d like to develop further with Gustavus Cheer!