Cougar squad boosts spirit ... rally!
From our weekly issue dated July 01, 2009
The IVHS fall rally squad. (Photo provided by Illinois Valley High School)
Now that the school sports year has come and gone, there is one aspect that cannot be overlooked: the Cougar rally squad, the unsung heroes.
How many times at games do we stop and think about the cheerleaders and how important they are to the success of our teams?
Sure, they don’t score touchdowns or swish 3-pointers. But they still contribute to Illinois Valley High School teams more than we think.
They also present the flag ceremony at home games in Ken Mann Memorial Gym.
They provide motivation and encouragement to the teams and keep fans enthused throughout games. They are an important part of the so-called home field or home court advantage we hear so much about. As an athlete it is always nice to know that they are there to support and encourage the team with school spirit and pride, win or lose.
There is more to cheerleading than megaphones and pom-poms. There are the dedication and commitment rally squad members display with little or no recognition. It is the countless hours they devote to demonstrate that spirit and pride.
That’s an underlying core to the Cougar rally squad. Heather Merrill, the head coach and family advocate at IVHS, has been involved for 11 years as a coach and cheerleader. She was the head cheerleader when she attended Illinois Valley. It is in her blood and is a family thing.
Her mother, Mary Paul, has been involved for 16 years, and in fact was Merrill’s coach while she was in school. Christina Paul (formerly Yanase) has served as assistant coach during the past four years and was the captain for all her four years at IVHS.
“There is a lot more to cheerleading than just the time they spend at the games; they practice all year long, working on choreographing routines and teaching safety while performing at the games,” said Merrill.
“Cheer” is a club sport and the athletes must pay for everything themselves. So it is not just about the time they put into practice perfecting their routines, but the fund-raising they must do, including car washes, dunk tank events and food booths at the I.V. Lions Labor Day Festival and the county fair.
They also appreciate the donations they receive from the community. Without this support it would be difficult to sustain a squad.
Cheerleading is a sisterhood that lasts a lifetime. Because of the tight-knit small squad, the girls get to know each other well. They rely on each other and form a bond like no other. The 2008-09 squad was comprised of Sabrina Van Tassel, Kayla Young, Crystal Gasser, Brittany Mosley, Angelina “Angel” Heath, Alexandrea “Alli” Brown, Betine Parnemann and Stephanie McCluer.
McCluer, head cheerleader this year, has been on the squad for three years.
“Being the captain is challenging,” she said. “Giving direction while still maintaining friendships was tough,” she said. “We are Cougars, and it was hard to stay focused when our teams were not winning. However we had to stay positive and show that we care. The more we cheer, the more hope we gave the team”, McCluer added.
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This year’s squad had a unique aspect in the name of Betine Paremann. She is a foreign exchange student from Tonsberg, Norway, a town which is located on the south coast about an hour from the capital, Oslo.
Paremann wanted to get involved after being in dance class. She wanted the real thing: cheerleading.
“She was a real kick in the pants and brought a lot to the team. She was a real quick study,” said Paul.
Noted Paremann, “It was a lot harder than it looks. It is something I really enjoyed and will never forget.”
The Cougar rally squad is looking to grow in numbers and would like to eventually have a JV squad. The coaches are looking for freshman girls and boys to try out. Yes -- boys. In fact the last boy to cheer was Robert Roth.
“It is really hard to get the boys to try out, because of the ridicule they may receive,” said Merrill “We eventually would like to have a competitive extreme squad, and boys would be an asset,” Merrill added.
There are six male Cougars who should be recognized for their school spirit and pride. They show up at every game, match, meet and contest -- rain or shine -- to cheer and encourage their beloved, the mighty Cougars.
They are Arik Gerhardt, Shane McCarthy, Mike Coots, Taylor Harris, John Delgado and Mark Delgado That is a pride of Cougars, with Cougar pride.
Community members interested in getting involved with a “true American sport” can contact Merrill at Illinois Valley High School.
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