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Show Spirit Text: Tanja Schaffer YAAAAAWN!!! It's 6 o'clock in the morning. Twenty-four girls have sprawled themselves out across the wooden gym floor while they nibble on donut gems and sip from small cartons of fruit juice. Everything (except for the idle chatter among themselves) is quiet. Everything, that is, until head drill mistress Cheryl Glenn wearily strolls over toward the "ghetto blaster" and flips the switch on. It's not at all uncommon among them to discover unmasked faces as well as hot rollers in the tresses of these devoted team members. Every morning marks the same routine. Practices are held each day from 6 until 7:45 a.m. Despite these long, erratic hours, very few of the girls leave during the year. If one does resign, it's usually because she has married or simply isn't attending school anymore. After the new Chantonelles are announced, the girls then elect their officers. Last May, they appointed Jan Nichols to preside over the group, with Valerie Telford and Diane Martinez acting as first and second vice president. Ja Kim was voted secretary, and from further tryouts, they selected three drill mistresses.: Cheryl Glenn-head, Heidi Stratford and Michelle Siebert. The team's advisor, former Chantonelle Marilyn Schiffman, has remained in the position for 12 years. She said that the Chantonelles' style has changed drastically within the past 20 years. Fund raising is a normal part of the Chantonelles' life. The summer of 1985 started something new in this area. On July 24, each Chantonelle sold a certain share of programs at the rodeo. Success was attained as they pulled in $1000. Fall quarter was dedicated to practices and fund raiser projects. Selling pizzas was one big project that helped them to get their new uniforms. These rhinestone-studded outfits are their first ones in a solid color of true Wildcat purple. Normally, they perform during half-time at the homecoming game every fall. However, this year they didn't get this chance. "Some guys spread a rumor which alluded to the fact that the Chantonelles didn't like to perform on the field for fear of wrecking their uniforms," said Schiffman. Despite that disappointment, the Chantonelles found themselves very busy, travelling on the road quite a bit during basketball season. In March, the group joined the basketball team and cheerleaders on a four-day stay in Reno, where the MGM Grand Big Sky Conference was held. It was here that they performed during half-time. Since that time, they have been putting their effort into working on the dance that they will be presenting at the Crystal Crest Awards ceremony on June 7. This will mark their final performance as WSC Chantonelles for 1985-86. HIGHSTEPPERS: the Chantonelles present a catchy routine during half-time at a Wildcat basketball game. Much time and discipline go into their preparations. Signpost photo: Scott Miller) ' ' . vyS t - i i - t : LAJ-V: . -- , , . , ; " J " fL ".1 M.... - t, ! Weber State cheerleaders . . . they rate great! Especially in the eyes of many cancer victims who were aware of the Orange Julius Squeeze Off as an American cancer drive project. This event, aside from their other numerous responsibilities, was one of the many community projects that the cheerleaders had involved themselves in during this past year. Four various shopping malls set the scene for this function: Newgate, Ogden, Layton Hills, and the ZCMI Center in Salt Lake. The cheerleaders performed cheers and pyramids to arouse crowds of people and to try to get them involved in donations. Each pledged fee went according to the number of squeezes per orange in an alloted time. Next on their agenda was a four-day UCA (Universal Cheerleader Association) college spirit camp which they attended at the University of Utah from Aug. 25-28. Various competitions were scattered throughout each day of the camp and were supplemented frequently with showmanship and spirit awards which were granted to the squad possessing the most spunk and enthusiasm. The Wildcat cheerleaders walked away from camp carrying three superior ratings. Back home, just four hours of practice a week was enough to prepare the squad for the games and other activities they supported. When moments in the game signaled a lack of action, the cheerleaders were quick to take their cue and attempt to fill the lull with entertainment for the crowd. This usually required them to execute an impressive cheer that involved lifts, pyramids and gymnastics. According to the cheerleaders, the current trend in performance is edging toward stunts. MORE stunts, that is -stunts that are really DARING! The basket toss was one remarkable crowd amuser. Waldo, the Wildcat mascot, sometimes aids in spotting the stunts. "He also spices up the show," said one cheerleader, "the kids absolutely adore him. It really takes someone special to put on that costume and act as Waldo does." In September, the cheerleaders helped at a "meet the team" banquet by introducing the football team to the Wildcat Club. Also on their calendar were two different cheerleading clinics which they sponsored for all high school squads that signed up. The money that they earned from these operations was placed into their cheerleading fund. Toward the end of the school year, the cheerleaders made trips to 12 local junior high and high schools to participate on the panel of judges for cheerleader tryouts. One journey even took them up to a school in Wyoming. Stan Boothe, a tumbling and gymnastics instructor, had worked indirectly with the WSC cheerleaders for seven years until last year when he became the advisor. He said that he is really excited about all of the new cheerleaders, further commenting that the best of last year's cheerleaders have come back. "In my recent memory, it appears that this will be the strongest squad. And we will certainly be competing more this year. I believe that these cheerleaders have a lot of potential and will really be successful." j : -. J 'i -'- r- V i a- n hi' : 'f r it " V V r;i :v V.. ? - iV : n" "fiK'ol ' i ll t r"'- , -vs4 r. it JZ- , HUMAN PYRAMIDS have become extremely popular with today's cheerleaders across the nation. Weber State's spirited group is no exception. Easy? Try it! (Signpost photo: Scott Millerl |