Rock Island High School - Watchtower Yearbook (Rock Island, IL)

Page 32 text:

ROW 1: Angie Hollenbark. Nancy Lewarne. Linda Burkhead. ROW 2: Lisa Keys, Corinnn Washington, Leah Asquith. TOP TO BOTTOM: Corinna Washington, An¬ gie Hollenback, Prudence Green. Debbie DeSmet, Joel Axup. LEFT: Kris Blomgren. RIGHT: Mary Beth Thoms. Row I: Debbie Plechaty. Beckie Beane. ROW 2: Chrysta Jones, Heather McMillan. Julie Vassaka. ROW 3: Candi Hinze, Michelle Cot¬ trell, Shellee Showalter. 28 Cheerleaders

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Raiders-Orioles Space 1984 Unemployment Olympics 1984 Black Leaders The strength of the ballot boxes brought new leaders to political power. A black mayor was elected in Philadelphia. Harold Washington became Chicago’s first black mayor. Jesse Jackson ran as a serious candi¬ date in the democratic presidential primaries. “Where’s the beef’ was a “fun” Wendy’s commercial. There was nothing funny about “Where’re the jobs” as employment declined and periodic plant shut-downs took place at both Deere and Farmall. There was a brief glimmer of hope as both companies began to recall laid-off workers. Doll Mania Brooke Amanda, class of ’97, holds her Odetta Jenny tightly, un¬ aware of the craziness which had created the doll’s popularity and scarcity. Elections 1984 1984 was an election year. Presi¬ dent Reagan announced he would run again and visited his hometown of Dixon, Illinois. There, he could momentarily put the pressing daily problems of unemployment, budget deficits, arms’ control, inflation and the Middle East behind him. World And Local News 27

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Cheerleading More Than A Smile Every day, from three to five in the afternoon, a group of very im¬ portant girls gathered to practice. These girls were the Rocky cheer¬ leaders, responsible for keeping the spirit of the crowd high at games and leading the team on to victory with morale-boosting cheers. To develop these cheers, the Rocky cheerleaders worked in uni¬ son to create floor cheers, sideline cheers and pom-pom routines. They worked under the direction of Miss Weiderman their coach. These girls devoted most of their after-school time to learning cheers that they hoped would whip the Rocky spec¬ tators into a frenzy and create en¬ thusiasm at the school pep assem¬ blies. Cheerleaders Debbie DeSmet and Kris Blomgren said of the squad, “We hope that Rocky stu¬ dents notice our improvement throughout the season and from one year to the next.” Both varsity and sophomore foot¬ ball squads attended cheerleading camps this past summer. The sopho¬ mores went to the AAC in Geneseo where they earned a blue, a red and a white ribbon. The varsity cheer¬ leaders attended the NCA cheer¬ leading camp at Iowa State Univer¬ sity in Ames. These girls received one superior and two excellent rib¬ bons along with a spirit stick which was given to several squads which showed the most spirit and enthusi¬ asm. Both squads brough back a vari¬ ety of sideline and floor cheers for the football and the basketball sea¬ sons. All the cheerleaders admitted that they had room for improve¬ ment but all in all the season would be a good one. The cheerleaders hoped that the students would help them emphasize pride in Rocky! TOP TO BOTTOM: Michelle Cottrell, Beckie Beane, Debbie Plechaty. Heather McMillan. LEFT: Chrysta Jones. RIGHT: Julie Vassaka Cheerleaders 29