by Ashley Clark
Contributing writer
What are the roles, requirements, and honors of being a SE Cheerleader?
Chelsea Sproles, senior communication major and current cheerleading co-captain, said, “The role of an SE cheerleader is to represent your school, be a well rounded student, good example, good leader and get the crowd going and involved while giving it your all.’
According to the SE website said, cheerleaders are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA, to attend summer camp and to attend three practices a week.
These requirements detail the role of a cheerleader while also representing SE at all times on and off campus.
Sproles said cheerleaders are required to be at all athletic games during the season and traditional events such as bonfires, tailgate events and the homecoming parade.
Madison Perkins, current cheerleader and music major, said, “Out of town games are extremely important because not everyone can always make the long drive and having that constant cheer team to be behind our athletes can help boost the team and keep them playing at their best.”
Perkins said the cheerleaders bring a whole new level of awareness to the games. “The squad is very diverse in what they do to entertain the crowd,” said Perkins
Perkins said, “Game day is as exciting for us as it is the athlete that is playing the game. We get to show off what we have practiced.”
Sproles said, on a typical football game, the cheerleaders show up at 1 p.m. to perform at tailgate and pregame performances. “During Pregame, the cheerleaders perform with the band the ‘Oklahoma’ song as well as fight song,” said Sproles.
Cole added that cheerleaders also perform new material at media time outs during the third quarter at every game and usually halftime performances during a football game.
Sproles said, “The fight song is a great game starter and gets the crowd pumped up. The fight song is played before all starting athletic events and after highlight plays, such as touchdowns.”
But games are not the only events at which the cheerleaders perform.
“Bonfires have been a tradition for many years, and it is a great way to get the school involved and feel like they are being apart of a support team for SE football,” said Sproles.
Cheerleaders also participate in community service projects at local schools in Durant.
“Occasionally, we will work baseball concession stands and basketball tournaments for fundraising money,” said Amber Cole, junior recreation major and cheer co-captain.
Every summer, the squad also hosts a local carwash to help contribute to cheer funds, said Cole.
Perkins, being one of the squad’s first male cheerleaders, said, “Guys need to be incorporated in the cheer squad because they can bring the squad to a whole new level.
“More males cheerleaders would make them more of a competitive cheer squad and could one day actually go to competitions and be able to show that SE can having a wining team along with all our other sports who have proven their place time and time again.”
Cole said, “SE cheerleaders are put on higher pedestal. Being a cheerleader should be taken as an honor.”
For more information, visit the website, http://homepages.se.edu/cheer/.