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Ode to Cheer Magazine

By
Who would ever think
That cheer isn’t a sport?
We practice
We perform
We compete
We win
Do you have what it takes?
Yelling so loud
The next day you can’t be heard
Memorizing
A million tiny moves
To show off
In front of a team that never wins
Throwing that girl in the air
Her life in your hands
Your muscles scream in protest
But you catch her anyway
Sacrificing yourself
For 20 girls
On one mat
With one chance to stick it

Magazine This piece has been published in Teen Ink’s monthly print magazine.




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This article has 30 comments. Post your own!

ARandomKid said...
Jan. 26 at 7:30 am:

Im A Guy And Cheerleading Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
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Santa said...
Dec. 21, 2011 at 10:08 am:

beautiful...

 
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Lauren B. VIP said...
Oct. 8, 2011 at 10:59 am:

I don't know what to think about the whole thing, but I can tell you that this is a NONFICTION section, and this sounds (is) an opinion no matter who's on which side. Nonfiction is based off facts an ode is praising something, not truly facts.

 
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softballhottie11 said...
Sept. 16, 2011 at 8:34 am:

i cheered for  years and i think that the girls need more respect. there are more injuries in cheerleading than any other sport. ever. it doesnt matter what they look like, it only matters how they perform. my school in ohio is rated number one in the country, look us up. 3 years running. we work extreamely hard and get good results. get on my level.

 
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Cheerselite<3 said...
Feb. 17, 2011 at 2:02 pm:

When most people think of cheerleading they think of sideline cheering. Thats not all there is, competitive cheerleading is more than that. It takes skills, flexibility, strength and much more. We compete, travel, and win. Get on my level;)

 
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beastyboy said...
Feb. 8, 2011 at 8:36 am:

yea im a football player and they dont need cheerleaders there just enoying but if there hot its ok

 
heatlebron6 replied...
Feb. 8, 2011 at 8:38 am :

Well i totally agrree of that beastyboy haha and there should just be cheerleaders at the playoffs and the championship games

 
beastyboy replied...
Feb. 8, 2011 at 8:39 am :

yea because what do they do???????

 
heatlebron6 replied...
Feb. 8, 2011 at 8:39 am :

be fine very fine

 
beastyboy replied...
Feb. 8, 2011 at 8:41 am :

whaaaaaaatttttt that means nothing the only thing i like about cheering is the girls are sometimes hott but  i like to go out with soccer players!!!!!!!!!!

 
heatlebron6 replied...
Feb. 8, 2011 at 8:43 am :

ight but i still think that they should sometimes and i like the ones that play any sports haha

 
beastyboy replied...
Feb. 8, 2011 at 8:44 am :

i know just di=ont jreally like cheerleaders

 
heatlebron6 replied...
Feb. 8, 2011 at 8:45 am :

OK BUT EVERYONE THAT SEES THIS COMENT

 

 
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Ansley said...
Jun. 10, 2010 at 2:58 am:

I was a cheerleader a few years back, before suffering an arm injury. People may think Cheerleading isn't a sport, but that's their opipion of cheerleading. They don't know difference between High School and Competive. Competive; your train from when your 6-18, high school is just 4 years. You don't wear anything to protect yourselves in cheerleading. People die from cheerleading injuries... and their most common injury's in women. But, You think what you want, those competive cheerleaders can t... (more »)

 
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ohsnapitsrose said...
May 2, 2010 at 9:27 am:

i understand when people say cheerleading isn't a sport when it's just cheering at games. i understand that, and i think those cheerleaders offer people a terrible sterotype. but the world of competitive cheerleading is a completely different story; it takes an incredible amount of strength and endurance. youtube a few videos before you bash cheerleading. try Top gun, fca diamonds, or california all stars. the aim of cheerleading is to win. just like any other sport.

 
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Pine Tar said...
Apr. 28, 2010 at 10:07 am:

Dance and cheerleading are not sports!! Get it through your head.  There is no objective of cheerleading.

 
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WritingAngel20VIP said...
Jan. 24, 2010 at 11:46 am:

Cheerleading is a sport, it's form of dance and dance is a sport. Cheerleading is probably one of the harder sports too, you have to be flexible, strong, and fast like in gymnastics

 
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lovetodance8 said...
Jan. 3, 2010 at 8:57 pm:

ok cheer is a sport. i know it takes hard work and you do have to sacrifice yourself for that human life you are throwing in the air. its painful and it takes dedication. like dancers they perform in front of crowds in size bigger than any crowd that comes to your games.its a rush and we have adrenaline pumping through our veins. we come home hurt and bruised and sore. we practice long hours. we lift people and you run around in circles!

 
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big rhonda said...
Nov. 30, 2009 at 12:31 pm:

you see, i'm a big woman. i play softball (the catcher) basketball, and mens football. cheerleading is 100% NOT a sport. it is just a reason for the fine looking ladies to wear mini skirts and gives the guys something hot to look at. THUGS FO LIFE DAWG

 
Cheer:) replied...
Dec. 10, 2009 at 1:36 pm :

Cheerleading is a sport.. lol and to Big rhonda lol you stupid, what type of woman plays mens football! seriously.. stop bashing cheerleading.. we can do what you can do(play foot ball/baseball/softball) but i highly doubt you can do what we do.

 
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breiteliza said...
May 31, 2009 at 6:37 am:

OMG I totally agree with everything this article says. I'm a cheerleader and when people say cheer isn't a sport I tell them then well I guess gymnastics and dance aren't sports either!

 
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poem said...
May 11, 2009 at 7:34 pm:

i think that cheering is a lot of hard work i am a cheerleader i've been a cheerleader for 4 years and to this day i love it even though my coaches expections are high .....i kno that the whole stunt is just messed up because it takes t my life is very risky because i am a flyer and if i mess up or they drop my foot

 
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Brittany02 said...
Apr. 29, 2009 at 10:15 pm:

wow, this is very good(: Im a cheerleader and I cheer for my school and cheerleading is a sport. Its my sport(:

 
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HOPEMVP said...
Apr. 29, 2009 at 2:02 pm:

I DID NOT REALLY think cheerleading was actually a sport or was that difficult till I decided to try-out. It's a lot Harder than it looks, but its worth all the hard work. GO CHEERLEADERS GO! :)

 
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shopaholic58 said...
Feb. 13, 2009 at 4:08 pm:

I totally agree.....I think cheerleading should be considered a sport too :]]

 
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cheeks92 said...
Jan. 15, 2009 at 3:03 am:

I absolutely love this. It's so true. So many people wonder why I'm always so sore or bruised from cheerleading because they don't think it's a sport, but we work just as hard, if not harder, than any other team! <3

 
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ababe123 said...
Nov. 13, 2008 at 3:03 am:

This is so true. I've been cheering for 5 years and almost EVERYONE at my school thinks its not a sport and its a waste of time. but i love it and always will =]

 
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sunshine said...
Nov. 12, 2008 at 9:05 pm:

I believe that cheer is a real sport and should be considered a sport so people start considering O>K>

 
beastyboy replied...
Feb. 8, 2011 at 8:43 am :

no its stuiped

 
cheerselite<3 replied...
Feb. 17, 2011 at 2:04 pm :

Your a stupid football player! you could never be able to do the things that competitive cheerleaders do! :) 

 
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