Cheer fights for their spot on the sidelines.
By Sophia Milazzo
In the midst of returning to school in a global pandemic, the resume of school sports were a topic of discussion for many to be afraid of. Students were scared of losing their chances on scholarships and recruitments to college to continue academic and athletic careers while others were simply scared to return at all. Through petitions and school board meetings they came to the conclusion that sports should continue on with some exceptions though. That being that football players were allowed to play, but band and cheerleaders were not.
Friday night lights is what everyone looks forward to at the end of the week, no doubt, but no one would ever go as far as giving football players special treatment to keep those nights around. Students no longer even get to go to these events due to the circumstances we see ourselves in, which really doesn’t make it a highlight in the week anymore. Senior Trey Lubin, committed to play D1 football at Western Kentucky University, is at home doing high school through a screen just to play the game. His response to having to quarantine just to play was, “You have to do what you have to do. This season is going to help me achieve my goals.” He was saddened by the initial news of cheerleaders not being on the sidelines as he said, “They are what makes the games lit, but now that they are back and I’m excited.”
Though the case for cheerleaders is not quite the same at the start. They were not granted their sideline season until until just a few weeks ago. Cheerleaders are not quarantined the same way the football team is and have no extreme precautionary measures. Senior Abby Smith’s response to the football team’s quarantine was, “It’s all in perspective, they gain their season but lose high school experiences. They receive special treatment that cheer was never considered for.” Abby has been cheering for about 11 years and her high school season started with a “no” from the board on being able to do what she has all her life.
But after fighting for their spot, cheer is now allowed back on the sidelines and their season will go on.
