Morehead State University - Raconteur Yearbook (Morehead, KY)

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Cheerleading is a year round activity for squad captairf Melissa Collins an elementary education major from Morehead. Collins teaches cheerlead- ing camps in the summers. PHOTO BY: jleColqu- houn The Universityk cheerleading squad, under the direction of Myron Doan, captured the University Cheerleading Association National title in January ,88 in San Diego, CA. PHOTO BY: Kevin L. Goldy The varsity squad won Best side-line cheer in the division in Memphis, TN, in August 1987. PHOTO BY: Jeff Colquhoun Sports Feature 126

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In the long run Jeff Collier, a senior and a member of the cross country team, feels that first- year coach, Dan Lindsey, has brought a lot of new ideas, a lot oftime and dedica- tion to the team? Lynn Rutsch, a member of the wom- en,s team, added, iithe coach has done an excellent job in getting the cross country program more recognition and in providing a close, helping environ- ment for the team? Coach Lindsey, who came to the Uni- versity after coaching Rowan Country High Schools cross country team to a state championship, said, iiIt felt like I was starting the program from scratch. But I enjoy taking a growing program and figuring out ways to strengthen itfi Since they only lost two seniors and were able to recruit fifteen to twenty men and women, Lindsey feels that the team will be much stronger next year and will place much higher. The highlight for the men, who com- peted against many different teams in With enthusiasm, background and knowledge as attributes, the menis cross-country team will try for the conference championship next year. PHOTO BY: Orville Lyttle T T eight meets and finished seventeen and twenty-two, was finishing third, right behind Eastern Kentucky State Univer- sity and Murray State University in the Ohio Valley Conference meet. Individually, Collier finished third in the conference and earned a spot on the All-Conference team for the second year in a row. In addition to this, he fin- ished second in three different meets and was named one of the six Ohio Val- ley Conference scholar-athletes. This honor is presented to men and women who excel in academic and ath- letic performance and show evidence of leadership. Winners are selected by the Conference Faculty Representative. The highlight for the womens team, which finished thirteen and fourteen in eight meets, was winning their own invi- tational in September. Lindsey has a fairly positive feeling from the stand point of what the cross country program is supposed to do. iiThe program is for enhancing the run- neris educational experience? He stresses that iievery runner must strive to maximize his or her potential in order to be successful in their citizen- ship and their academic and athletic en- deavors. ii His number one goal is to pro- vide an outlet for students who want to run cross country and to provide a suc- cessful team. With only nine members, there is a lack of runners for the team, but hope- fully this can be corrected by what Lind- sey calls the strongest recruiting year ever.,, New recruits include several for- mer high school state champions. Lindsey feels that the mens team has the enthusiasm, background and knowl- edge to try for the conference champi- onship next season. He also feels that the women are fairly consistent and hopes that they will be able to compete for the conference championship in two to three years... - By: Christie Sheppard Cross-country 125

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FEATURE Something to cheer about nWe all love what we,re doing! You have to love it, and I think it shows. What,s senior elementary education major Missi Collins so ardently referring to? Cheerleading. Collins is not alone in her enthusiasm. Her squad mates Scott Cooke, Angie Brown, Ronnie Pies, Jill Irvin, Barry Wol- ford, Leigh Clay Richardson, Margaret Blackwell, Robert Es- kridge, Sandy Everman, Mike McBeath, Terri 0055, Ed Petry and Darold Giles all share her passion for cheerleading. iiItis my life; its all I,ve ever donefi said Leigh Clay Richardson of Sharpsburg. iTve been cheering since sixth grade? The universityis varsity cheerleaders dedication has really paid off. Under the direction of sponsor Myron Dean, the squad, which cheers for both the mens football and basketball teams, captured the Universal Cheerleading Associationis Na- tional Title in January 1988. Their quest for the title began in August 1987, when the squad attended summer camp in Mem- :1 phis, Tennessee. There they were awarded iiBest Sideline Cheer in their division and , also placed second in the fight song cate- 1 gory After summer camp, the squad returned home to prepare material for a 2-minute 1; audition tape to be sent to the U.C.A. Though competing with over 200 squads, they advanced to the nationals in San Diego along with squads from Appalachian State, Furman, George Mason, and James Madison Universities. The cheerleaders then were faced with preparing a com- pletely new routine for the competition. During Christmas break, they worked over 25 hours a week to prepare the 2-minute routine which consisted of sideline and floor cheers, dance, gymnastics, and stunts. They performed their routine at the national competition and came away with the U.C.A. National Title for their division. But the distinction of being U.C.A. Division Champions has not caused the cheerleaders to forget their responsibility to the home teams or the fans. Leigh Richardson credits her motivation for cheerleading to supporting the team. iiIfs all very exciting, she notes, iiand sometimes very frustrating. Her frustration is shared by squad mate Barry Wolford, who says that he sometimes feels that there is not enough crowd support. But the general consensus among the cheerleaders is that they are involved because ofthe fans. iiOur role is trying to get everyone to support the team. That,s what were out there forf, said Missi Collins. iiAnd it,s really nice when people come up and say you,ve done a greatjob. That makes it all worthwhile. The cheerleaders practice three hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and cheer at both home games and those away games in the OVC. So, when does a cheerleader manage to steal a bit of spare time? Barry Wolford will be the first to ad- mit that cheering takes up a lot of time? But the cheerleaders do not allow l their hectic schedules to result in poor grades. Each member of the squad must l keep at least a 2.0 g.p.a. They often find : that they must take their books along on away games to stay on top of their stud- ies. Its just like anything elsef, said Missi Collins. iiYou have to manage your 1 time. If you know you have to do it, you I Irvin front Moorefield, along I do it? fit squad prac1iced for 25 hours a If you ask the Cheerleaders what they 1 istrnas break to get ready for do for fun, you may be surprised at how BY' Kevin L COldy closely their answer relates to cheer- 1 a WS 5 i' leading. In the summer you would find Missi Collins, Leigh Clay Richardson and Scott Cooke working at a summer camp spon- sored by a cheerleading squad from Memphis, Tennessee. There they teach junior high, high school, and even college cheerleaders, the fundamentals of cheerleading. On campus, Ronnie Pies and Robert Eskridge teach gymnastics to inter- ested students. Cheering gives you the confidence to do what you want? says Missi Collins. Some underestimate the dedication and ambition required to be a Cheerleader. Missi Collins credits ' her self-improvement to cheering. Its really going to help me go after the things I want After I graduate, and begin work, I would really love to sponsor a cheerleading squad. . - By: Melody Cooper Cheerleaders 127