HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADERS FINDING AN IDENTITY OF THEIR OWN

Cheerleaders say their sport is hard work.

Kirstie Alley, Meryl Streep, Cybill Shepherd and Steve Martin make us smile and laugh through their performances on TV and in the movies. What may have prepared them for their professions was a sport rather, than a drama class.

It takes a special personality to devote one's time and energy to a sport where one can never frown.

These performers were all cheerleaders, and Children's Express recently talked with two cheerleading squads from very different schools in Indianapolis about cheerleading in the '90s.

The Roncalli High School cheerleaders come from a Catholic school of fewer than 800 students, while the squad from North Central High School comes from a public high with a population of almost 3,000 students.

While the football or basketball team remains important, cheerleading is finding an identity of its own in the American high school. North Central's cheerleaders find satisfaction from competing with other squads; in contrast, Roncalli's cheerleaders focus more on maintaining school spirit.

The North Central cheerleaders placed 14th in the National Cheerleading Association's National Championships last December in Texas. In preparation, they practiced nine hours each week, while continuing to cheer on their basketball team every Friday and Saturday night.

The Roncalli cheerleaders cheer in front of screaming fans every Friday and Saturday and practice between two and three days each week. Roncalli's cheerleaders also lift the spirits of the players on the team between games by decorating lockers and baking brownies.

The competitive attitude North Central's cheerleaders have is sometimes misunderstood.

Until receiving national recognition, the North Central cheerleaders received little respect from the student body for their efforts.

"For us to get recognized and feel good about ourselves, we have to compete. Because at games, no one's there, so you don't have any incentive to do well there," said senior Kelsey Corcoran, 17.

The Roncalli cheerleaders have been gifted with a spirited crowd, something many cheerleaders only dream about.

"The feeling of being out in front of that crowd and just leading everyone into cheering on your team with support _ there's just to me no greater feeling," said sophomore Nicole Feely, 15.

Cheerleaders from both schools stressed the competitiveness of their sport, the teamwork it involves and the physical ability and strength it requires.

Although the Roncalli cheerleaders are not involved in outside competitions, junior Keri Miller, 16, said:

"We take extra time to do stuff, too. We make signs (to hang on the walls for spirit). It's not always just practicing.

"A lot of people don't think that cheerleading is a sport; we do as much as any other sport does. . . .We really wanted to (lift weights) because you need a lot of strength for anything in cheerleading: (for example) if you're basing (holding up a pyramid). You have to hold the weight of other people and you need to be strong to do that."

Many of these girls bring their abilities with them from other sports that they have given up for one reason or another.

When Robyn Ward, 16, a junior at North Central, got hooked on cheerleading, she gave up basketball, softball and soccer.

"I never wanted to be a cheerleader," she said. "(Now,) I have to do it. . . You can't quit. . . .If I don't do it, it's like something would be lost, not there."

Tryouts to be a cheerleader are no longer based on appearance or popularity as they once were.

Julie Perry, 16, a junior at North Central, stressed that all the cheerleaders at North Central are chosen for their athletic ability. "People think that cheerleaders are always pretty." At North Central, the scoring for tryouts is based on a system of over 300 points, of which only five are devoted to appearance.

At North Central, tryouts are getting tougher and tougher. The cheerleaders are known for their spectacular jumps and their coach, Lisa Knipp, hopes to keep the ability on her squad high.

Knipp also requires strong gymnastics abilities that include backhand springs and back tucks (flips with no hands). In dancing and cheering, cheerleaders also need strong motion technique in which their movements are crisp and clean.

Even with all their differences, the girls on both squads express a love for their sport that keeps them cheering.

"I just love cheerleading so much that I want to make sacrifices for it," said Roncalli's Keri Miller.

Amy Gephart, 16, a sophomore from North Central, spoke for both squads when she said:

"Yeah, it's like we're family."