Cheerleaders prepare new halftime show

They may be small in number and a relatively new group on campus, but Drew University spirit remains a key component of the basketball season. The cheer program was added four years ago and has only one squad member who has participated all four years-captain Erica Palmieri ('08).

"It's been a tradition for the cheerleading team to work closely with the dance team," Palmieri said. "This year, we've decided to break away from them to put more emphasis on cheerleading and to create our own performances."

Most of the cheerleaders are novices, and the team has no coach. "We have about five newcomers to the team, but everyone is working very hard," Palmieri said. "One person has no prior experience with cheerleading, but she's been very grateful to learn and to improve."

Still, the squad is able to pump up the crowd with new cheers, dances and tumbling routines at every basketball game. Also, the team will be looking to incorporate 'cheer-dance' into their performances. More recently, the girls have been preparing for their season debut at the Rose City Classic this coming weekend.

"We have been working on a new cheer and cheer dance just for the Rose City Classic. Also, we are putting together new sideline cheers to get the crowd hyped," Krystle Davis ('10) said.

Since many of the cheerleaders have not cheered in some time, if at all, captains Palmieri and Briana DiPierto ('10) focus their practices around core strength and basic cheerleading training to prepare the squad.

"I make sure our first month of practice focuses mainly on basic cheerleading training-learning arm movements and strengthening the muscles needed for specific stunts," Palmieri said.

"At practice, stunting is the hardest part because the base-the girls who lift the flyer- have to be in great shape. We are very careful when stunting and use mats until we have the stunt down pact," Davis said.

The two hour-long practices three times a week, along with hours logged in the Forum exercise room, have been paying off. The 2007-2008 squad is demonstrating that they are quite different from past Drew cheerleading squads because there are more cheerleaders on the squad with cheer knowledge than in previous years.

"This year's squad is different from last year's squad, because we have several more students who have cheer experience. We finally have a member who can tumble. Our excitement levels have been at an ultra-high, which is one of the most important factors for having a successful cheerleading team," Palmieri said.

"We have been working very hard to prepare for the Rose City Classic," Davis said. "Hopefully, we will make a bigger name for ourselves this season."

This season, the squad will be hosting concession stands at all the home games, in an attempt to get more students out to see the games.

Though the cheerleading team saves most of their spirit and energy for the basketball team, they are also in complete support of other on-campus organizations and sports.

"We try to show up and support baseball, lacrosse, field hockey and soccer," DiPierto said.

The basketball season for both teams kicks off to a start today with the beginning of the Rose City Classic.

"Come and support the Drew basketball team and the cheerleaders," Davis said. "It makes cheering a lot easier when there is a crowd. Show some school spirit and come out to the games."