Erika Engel
Special to The Hamilton Spectator
(Apr 1, 2008)
High Spirited
Lifting spirits is heavier than it looks.
Cheerleaders have long served as professional positive thinkers who turn the frowns of disappointed fans and athletes right side up. But the apparently effortless smiles, flips and pom-pom shakes don't come without hard work.
The cheerleaders with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have the same goal -- to encourage and entertain. It's their game strategy, however, that differs.
The Mustangs throw each other in the air. The Ticats dance as if on air. Both cheer on their teams, no matter how dark the clouds get.
Andrea Bottosso was on the Ticats team last year and plans to tryout again at this Sunday's auditions. She says an upbeat attitude is key.
"When it's 50-0 and you're on the zero side, you have to smile and find something positive," she said.
Lesley Stewart, head coach of the Hamilton Tiger Cats' cheerleaders, is getting ready to pick this year's cheerleaders.
"Most of the girls have been dancing since they were kids. That's what we're looking for -- solid dance backgrounds," she said.
The Ticat cheerleaders practise twice a week for three hours and two hours before games. Each cheerleader is given a membership to GoodLife Fitness gym to stay fit with cardiovascular and callisthenics training.
"When you're out there in front of all those people, you want to feel good," said Bottosso.
She says that means making healthy food choices including plenty of vegetables, salads and proteins.
At the gym, Bottosso likes to warm up with 30 minutes of cardio on the stationary bicycle and the elliptical machine. She follows that with 45 minutes of toning with free weights doing bicep curls, tricep dips, lateral squats, calf raises and abdominal crunches. She cools down with stretches.
As well as dance training, team members focus on endurance through cardiovascular exercise routines. Members take turns leading workouts, often applying their expertise as seasoned dancers or coaches for the warmups.
Cheerleaders use Pilates training to develop their flexibility and core strength, as well as weight training to tone their arms and legs. Well-rounded fitness and endurance is integral for this cheer team.
"They're in the field all day ... eight hours a day sometimes," said Stewart.
Jennifer Kennedy and Lauren Yaksich were on the team last year, and plan to try out this year. Both come from competitive dance backgrounds. They see cheerleading as a way to pursue their passion for dance.
Kennedy, who started dancing at the age of three, grew up with a football coach for a father.
"I think it was his dream to see me flipping on that field," she said, laughing.
A McMaster kinesiology major now, Kennedy hopes to earn a master's degree in occupational therapy. She won't stop dancing though.
"I'll be dancing until I'm 90," she said. "It's such a thrill."
Yaksich also feels professional cheerleading is a natural progression with her extensive dance background.
"It gives me the opportunity to keep dancing at a high level," she said.
David-Lee Trace, head coach of the Western University Mustangs cheerleading team, is known for his severe training techniques.
"My kids train savagely," Trace admitted.
The Mustangs' team members are accustomed to pulling vehicles up hills and dragging tires across fields.
"The stronger the kid gets, the better they are going to be at throwing and catching each other," said Trace. "We're juggling humans."
The team is a competitive power cheering team. Mustangs' routines involve lifts, throws, jumping, tumbling and dancing. When they aren't cheering for university basketball and football games, they are competing.
They train all year around, working through a cycle that Trace developed to prepare them for power cheering -- smiles and all.
Power cheerleading requires anaerobic training, he said. They need to be trained like a sprinter. Unlike an endurance runner -- power cheering requires short bursts of intense physical exertion.
The Mustangs train three times a week as a team and three times a week in the weight room.
In the summer, Trace focuses on individual fitness and conditioning.
Many of the Mustangs cheerleaders have gone on to become fitness competitors, coaches and gym owners. Some have stayed in cheerleading at the open competitive level.
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