After finding out that the LUHSD school board is making some changes to the cheerleading program that would include the removal of competition cheer the Heritage cheerleaders jumped into action to save the program they worked so hard to get to where it is today. The team just wants a solution that will keep traditional competition cheer a part of their program and are willing to fundraise and do what it takes to change the minds of the school board.

  LUHSD has been a newsworthy topic as East Bay run online newspaper, The Press, wrote an article highlighting the issue on March 2, 2017. The superintendent of the school district, Eric Volta, decided to comment on the topic.

  “‘Sideline cheerleaders are not going away, and the district is not getting rid of competitive cheer… It’s just (a matter of) which competition cheer we can keep (stunt or traditional),’” said Volta.

  The difference between sideline, or traditional cheer, and stunt, or competitive cheer, is the idea of competing with other schools.  Both still have the aspect of performing in front of large crowds, representing school pride and bringing an overall positive environment, like any sport.

  Emily Mack reached out to twitter to share her feelings about the situation and how competition cheer has impacted her life.

  “#luhsdsavecompcheer cause it has taken me to amazing places and gave me opportunities no one should miss out on,” said Emily Mack (12).

  Another aspect of this argument brings up the discussion of whether or not cheer is considered a sport. Most argue that it is because of all the strenuous activity of flipping, lifting, jumping, and the constant moving it takes to keep up.

  “Other athletes don’t consider us as a real sport, even though we work just as hard as them just in different ways, as with any sport team,” said Mady Sutton(11).

 More information on cheer being a sport can be found on the Heritage Ledger online written by our talented Faith Bough.

  The team has fought to do everything they can to keep stunt cheer in their program, including creating an online petition on Change.org and spreading the word throughout the school as much as possible.

  Within that petition, they include reasons as to why competition cheer should still be considered by the school board and for more reasons than just because that’s how it has been for the past couple of years.

“‘Competition cheerleading is not only a great way to promote general health and wellbeing but it also teaches valuable life skills, such as: leadership, communication, discipline, time management, and sportsmanship. It allows cheerleaders to be seen by college coaches and have the opportunity to receive scholarships,’” stated the Heritage cheer team.

  Despite the immense efforts of bringing awareness to how beneficial competition cheer is from the Heritage cheerleaders, there were not enough votes in favor of continuing the competitions so it has, unfortunately, been removed from the program.