Disappointed by lack of coverage

To the editor:

I was so disappointed to open the March 14 Frontiersman and not see coverage of the state cheerleading competition that was held at Dimond High School.

Approximately 30 teams participated showing off their cheers and dance routines. These are athletes who have trained since early November (some since football season). They train as long as three hours a day and travel with their school teams to away games. They are mostly seen supporting their schools’ basketball teams, rallying the crowds and cheering on the their teams. There was one day set aside for them to show off their skills and be supported for their athleticism, and yet there was no coverage of their state competition.

For anyone interested, Houston High took first place in its division and then on top of that was awarded the Grand Champion trophy. The Grand Champion trophy is awarded to the overall best cheer team. This small team of five young women beat all the other teams from the larger schools including those teams that do stunts. What an achievement, and yet not one word was written to recognize them, their hard work or their accomplishment.

I admit it took me some time for me to see cheerleading as a “real” sport, but these young women train and work just as hard as the other athletes and willingly take a supporting role in their chosen sport. Don’t you think there should have been some recognition of their efforts as well?

Kelly Malidore

Big Lake