Cheering returns to SACS, KHS

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    STACYVILLE — When the Southern Aroostook and Katahdin basketball squads hit the hardwood in the coming weeks, both teams will have support from a group not seen on the sidelines for many years.
    Cheerleaders are making a return to both schools this winter. The RSU 50 school board learned of the matter during Monday night’s school board meeting held at Southern Aroostook Community School. According to RSU 50 Superintendent Larry Malone, about 16 students (eight in each of the two schools) have expressed a desire to cheer this winter at basketball games.
    “I am so glad to see the cheering come back,” said board member Barbara Burton. “My daughter was a cheerleader and she really enjoyed it.”
    The cheerleaders will be “spirit squads” and not “competition squads,” Malone said, which means the two groups will not be competing in the regional cheering competition.
    “The regulations in cheering have gone up because of safety concerns,” explained SACS Principal Jon Porter. “Because we are just bringing these groups back, we don’t want to start hoisting kids up into the air without proper safety instructions.”
    As a spirit squad, no lifts will be allowed, but tumbling can take place. A cheerleader may only leave the floor by their own power, through jumps, cartwheels or flips. Porter said the groups would remain a spirit squad for two years, to allow such time for safety techniques to be taught. After the two-year period, the schools may switch to competition squads, with school board approval.
    Porter said it has been at least a decade since SACS has had a cheering squad.
    “We’re excited about our students being more involved in showing school spirit,” Malone said. “We look forward to them being a part of our basketball games and raising spirit for our schools.”
    Malone said uniforms would need to be purchased for the two new squads and would be funded by the school district.
    Heidi Rigby was named the cheering coach for SACS, while Toni Lent was selected for the position at Katahdin Middle/High School.