1 … 3 … 5, HIT, 7. If you’ve ever seen cheerleaders in action, you’ve probably heard these counts or something similar. Most Oak Park High School students get the opportunity to watch the cheer team at rallies or football games, but there’s so much more to the sport that people aren’t aware of. Intensive practices hide behind the “effortless” performances, making cheer one of – if not the least – appreciated sports.  

Before we can get into what makes cheerleading so underrated, one must first truly understand what the sport is. From sideline and recreational cheering for a school/sports team to all-star and competitive cheerleading against other cheer teams, each type of cheerleading is its own individual world for athletes to learn. In many ways, cheerleading is a blend of multiple sports, such as the performance aspects of dance and the tumbling elements of gymnastics, with a unique twist to it and some new additions, like stunts. 

“Cheerleading is a dynamic and highly athletic sport that combines elements of dance, stunting, tumbling and teamwork,” assistant varsity cheer coach Steven Jimenez wrote to the Talon. “It’s not just about cheering on other teams. It’s a competitive sport where precision, strength, timing and trust are critical.”

If throwing people’s bodies into the air while managing to keep a smile on your face isn’t the most entertainingly hazardous activity, I don’t know what is. Truly, the physicality of cheerleading is unmatched and unlike any other.  

“Oh, cheerleading is absolutely more dangerous than people realize,” Jimenez wrote. “There are so many fast-moving variables in cheerleading, especially when stunting. If one person is not fully focused on what is going on, it can become very dangerous very quickly.”

Regardless of whether it’s cheering with the school or a private team, the very fundamental nature of the sport opens it to frequent injuries.  

“I fractured my shoulder when I fell from a stunt and am currently in the process of recovery,” JV choreography captain Avery Calima wrote to the Talon. “Cheerleading can definitely have some parts where there are risks taken for any position you’re in during stunting.”

A lot of work has to go into each practice to ensure that the team gives their best performance, 

“We need to know around 50 cheers by heart and multiple sideline dances that have to be sharp,” Calima wrote. “We also need to train our bodies for stunts, making it look clean and smooth.” 

With all the time and effort these athletes put into the sport, the cheer team becomes a family that is hard to leave behind.  

“I wanted to try out for cheer originally because I wanted to be a part of a team that was as supportive as cheer is,” freshman flyer Taylor Martin wrote to the Talon. “Being a part of the cheer team would allow me to meet new friends as I go into high school.”

Not only do they help one another navigate the good and the bad times, but they also learn many valuable lessons and skills that stick with them for the rest of their life. 

“I have become a lot more confident since doing cheer, a lot better at public speaking, and a lot better at presenting myself, so that’s something I’m really grateful cheer has provided for me,” Varsity Captain Marissa Kalan said. “Who knows, maybe I’ll continue in college.”

There are a couple of options for those who want to pursue the sport after high school, such as cheering in college or for a professional sports team. However, many individuals choose to quit the sport because of the difficulty in maintaining the serious strain on the body and the amount of money individuals bleed with little to nothing in return. Not to mention, cheerleading has yet to be fully incorporated as a sport in the Olympics, receive equal media coverage, etc. 

With all of these details combined, there should be no question that cheer deserves more recognition and acknowledgment on all levels than it currently receives.