University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

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■ CHEERLEADERS LET ' S GET IT STARTED A NEW HEAD COACH FOR THE CHEERLEADERS BRINGS A STRENUOUS SCHEDULE AND NEW GOALS TO THE TEAM written by HEATHER BURCHFIELD m Tl ch Ready? ' cheerleaders are always ready when to practicing, performing and volunteering. They spend countless hours in workout and practice sessions from the crack of dawn until late at night to perfect their stunts and routines, but all the audience sees is the finished product. They do not ever see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes Jenna Torjusen, a varsity cheerleader from Pascagoula, said she has been on the squad for three years and has loved every minute. You have to be very dedicated to be a cheerleader, Torjusen said. It is something I enjoy and lo e to do. I always have. Benji Borrelli, a varsity cheerleader from Gulfport, said he has not always been a cheerieaden In high school, he played football but started helping out the cheerleading squad at competitions during his junior yean I love football and basketball, Borrelli said. Cheering is my way to contribute to the team because I wasn ' t born with enough talent to play at the college level. With this love of cheerleading comes hard work. The varsit ' and junior varsity cheericaders have very structured and specific workout sessions throughout the week. In our morning workouts, we have weight training on Mondays and Thursdays at 6 a.m., Torjusen said. On Wednesdays we run and have cardio workouts at 6 a.m. as well. We have practice everyday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Oxford Elementary School. Brad Sloan, the varsity and junior varsity coach, said it is easy for the squads to put in 12 hours in one day, especially on game weekends. He said they have to be in the Grove for the walk through, and then they go to the stadium for warm-ups. They are there for pre-game and the game. With all the exercising and performing, when do the squads have time for school? I have a 14 hour day, and I have to discipline myself to study during the day instead of going home and.takmg a nap. Benji Borrelli said. Borrelli said he has to treat school like a job to get all his studying done. He is majoring in real estate and has his goals set high to be successful. My day starts at 5:30 in the morning, and it ends at 7 p.m., Borrelli said. I have a 14 hour day, and I have to discipline myself to study during the clay instead of going home and taking a nap. The cheerleaders are always busy. If they arc not in the g ' m, on the football icid, in the Grove, on the laskclhall courl or in the classroom, ihey are out in the community. Each I licedeader is required to jic-rform 20 hours of THE JR. VARSITY Cheerleaders pose with an up ancJ coming cheerleacJer from the crowd at the Arkansas State game. The Jr. Varsity Cheerleaders cheer at basketball games as well, 372 I The Ole Miss 2005 community service, and this is excluding other mandatory charity events. The varsity and junior varsity squads have volunteered at places such as the Willie Price Day Care and Bramlett Elementary School in Oxford. They have performed pep rallies, read st ories and taught drug awareness to the children. The cheerleaders hav ' e recently been placed in the athletic department. Brad Sloan said it is very helpful for the program. Sloan began his position as coach in August, where he was previously a Universal Cheerleader Association instructor He was also cheerleader at Ole Miss in 1997 through 2002 while he was in college. Coaching is a different experience, Sloan said. It helps because I understand where they are coming from because I was once in their place, but it is still a different challenge. I am enjoying the experience. Spectators can look for the squad to go to competition in the future but just not this year The ' are still getting adjusted to the athletic department, and this is their goal to work towards for u|-)coming years. LANA BARRENTINE, a sophomore from Brandon, stunts with Zach Thames, a junior from Newton, at the Homecoming game against Arkansas State.

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CHEERLEADERS 374 I TiiL Oi.L Miss 2005