what some of you may be thinking...

My view of cheerleading at the University of Maine wasn't always the same. The more I got to know the girls and see what they can do the more my opinion shifted towards a positive. The girls spend countless hours practicing and getting into shape.

A regular day consists of 6 a.m. conditioning which begins with a two mile warm-up run, sprints, laps around the in-door track as well as ab, leg and arm workouts. Later that day they have practice from 4-6:30, which usually lasts until about 7 or even 7:30 some days. After practice they are either done or they travel to Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) to work on their tumbling (back handsprings, cartwheels, etc.) which usually is from 8 to about 9:30.

Besides all of their hard work, I think what impressed me the most was their dedication and strength as a team. They all work well together, and they all get along. The girls hold team dinners and fundraisers on a regular basis. This year they have had a team Christmas dinner, Valentine's day dinner and fundraisers within the community. The girls know how to have fun but know when it's time to be serious and work together to get things done!

Tryouts!

The cheering squad will be holding tryouts in a couple weeks for their fall 2007 football season. An exact date has not been set, but it will be announced soon. All of the girls on the squad will be returning to tryout as well as a bunch of new faces. After this years seasons the girls have received many responses from girls interested in trying out for the squad. For the girls on the squad this means that their spots on the team are not definite. Just like the others trying out, they must tryout too. It's going to be a tough competition and we'll be seeing some new, talented faces this fall.

seniors

The cheering squad has five girls graduating from the University of Maine. From left to right, Christy Sarnacki, Kimberly Hamel, Christen Cevoli, Kendra Look, Cassie Madden and a graduate from the year before, Dave Cusano. Three of the girls Hamel, Look and Madden have spent all four years cheering at Maine. Sarnacki and Cevoli are cheering for their first year at Maine, but have bonded with the girls as if they were always on the squad.

The squad is losing a group of very talented girls. All the girls are from the state of Maine and will be sure to make appearances at football and basketball games in the future.

goodbye daytona, hello maine!

The University of Maine Cheerleaders returned home on Sunday, Apr. 8 from their trip down to Daytona, Florida. The girls were there competing in Nationals, a cheering competition. The girls were one of many squads from all over the United States.Unfortunately for the blackbears their luck didn't go past the first round. Towards the end of their routine, two of the flyers (the girls that are thrown in the air) were dropped. One of the girls explained to me that dropping someone in the first round is automatic disqualification.

Although upset about their loss the girls were able to spend the next few days on the warm, sunny beach in Daytona. Some of the girls relaxed and watched the other teams compete. Girls that were of age enjoyed the night-life clubs and Mug-o-ritas ( margaritas in huge mugs). When the girls returned home they still had their smiles on and were excited to share all of their stories. The girls had a fun time, swimming, meeting new friends and bonding as a team. They even came up for a new nickname for themselves, Team Diva!

and the winner is...

The University of Maine Cheerleaders have announced their next captains for the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007. The captains were chosen through a voting system. Each girl and guy on the squad was asked to write down on a piece of paper the two people they thought would make for the best captains. Many characteristics they were looking for were for the girls to be hard working, passionate and have good leadership skills. When the votes were in, senior Kendra Look and junior Kim Ross were said to be the captains for both semesters of the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

Both girls attend school at the University of Maine. Look shows her hard work on the squad and also in her studies. She is finishing up studying with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. Ross has great leadership skills and is passionate about what she does. She exhibits these skills both while cheering and while she studies Family Relations and Child Development with a minor in Psychology.

Although Look's time as a captain has recently come to a close she has served the girls and guys on her squad as both a role model and an inspiration. Ross will continue to provide her duties as a leader with a passion to cheer and loyalty to her team. We hope that Look will continue with her success within Chemistry and Mathematics and as a person who is admired for being a successful leader.