“Actually, the modern culture of cheerleading is a competitive sport just like basketball. The girls take it very seriously, and they’re very conscious of their image in representing the school and community.” – Tonya Niemeyer, Cheerleading Coach at Minster
They work as hard, and take as much pride in their performance, as the athletes they support. Irony is…the modern culture of cheerleading is a sport in and of itself.
It has been suggested from time to time…why don’t you ever write something about cheerleading on Press Pros.
“After all,” someone told me. “It’s as much a sport now as gymnastics, and they have that in the Olympics.”
And when long-time friend and Minster cheerleading adviser Tonya Niemeyer bent my ear recently, well…she made a pretty good case of her own.
Try doing this from baseline to baseline…and then walk back to your seat.
Niemeyer has been the cheerleading adviser and coach at Minster for several years, and has seen one group of girls after another go through, and one thing never changes. The girls at Minster, just like those at a lot of schools, always look their best with their routines, dress appropriately, and represent their school and the community with the utmost pride and commitment. One could make the point that they are just as committed as an Olympic gymnast.
“People would never guess just how hard the girls work at what they do,” Niemeyer said this past week, during a timeout of a boys basketball game.
“Actually, modern cheerleading is a competitive thing, just like basketball. The girls take it very seriously, and they’re very conscious of their image in representing the school and community. They take a lot of pride in what they do. If you consider that the OHSAA now allows ‘stunting’ (pyramids, lifts, and aerial flips), it has a very heavy gymnastic quality. Stunts are controversial for the fact that some schools allow it, and some don’t, but that’s an individual decision…a safety thing.
“Here at Minster we allow our girls to ‘stunt’, they enjoy it, and think of it as another way of creating enthusiasm and entertainment.”
And for those who question?
Try doing back handsprings from baseline to baseline…and then try walking back to your seat. Actually, cheerleaders, themselves, run back to the other end of the court.
So Tonya, out of sheer respect and acknowledgment for their conditioning and athletic ability, we’re pleased to recognize the girls from Minster High School this week as our ‘Who’s Hot’ honorees on Press Pros.
And long overdue!
The St. Henry Bank joins Press Pros Magazine in recognizing this week’s “Who’s Hot” honorees…the Cheerleaders, from Minster High School.