The Daily Campus

Issue date: 2/26/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Kane The UConn Cheerleading Squad placed first place in two events at a competition at Quinnipiac University, Saturday.

After walking away from a local competition with a first place trophy, the White Squad cheerleaders of UConn are flying high. The squad managed to astoundingly pull together a routine in just two days, after one of the co-captains, Rachel Karll, an 8th-semester human development and family studies major, was injured and could no longer compete. The squad was judged on their stunting ability, dance moves, tumbling ability and choreography.

The competition held Saturday at Quinnipiac University in Hamden. The other teams that competed included Eastern Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University.

UConn has two separate cheerleading squads, one designated for the women's basketball team (the White Squad) and one for the men's basketball team (the Blue Squad). Both squads cheer at home football games. It is a common misconception that the White Squad is the junior varsity team, while the Blue Squad is the varsity team. Both teams are varsity collegiate cheerleading teams. This is the first year that the White Squad has no males on the squad. The White Squad is capable of executing everything that the Blue Squad does with boys. The White Squad is the only one of the two that competes.

This is the first time that the White Squad has competed locally in over four years. Co-captain Shannon Catalano, an 8th-semester human development and family studies major, said that team had uncertainty before entering the competition.

"We didn't really know what we were in for because we didn't compete locally before," Catalano said.

According to Karll, this has been the best season that the team has experienced since she joined the squad.

"Since my freshman year I think, as an all-girls squad, we've progressed a lot," Karll said.

Like many other cheerleaders, Karll finds it frustrating that cheerleaders often go unrecognized for their efforts.

"It's hard for us because people don't think we do much," she said.

Cheerleading is a year-round commitment that requires immense dedication. Three hour practices three times a week during the season, everyday practices prior to season and practices throughout the summer are mandatory for the squad.

The squad placed ninth in the country last year at a national competition in Florida. In 2001, the squad placed third in the nation. Although the team will not be competing on a national level this year, they expect to compete next year. It is often hard for them to enter competitions, due to the conflicting schedule of the NCAA tournament.

Berron Forrest, who is a UConn alumnus as well as a former UConn cheerleader, has been the associate head coast of both squads since 1995.

"These are talented young girls and they learn pretty fast," Forrest said. "They do pretty well on demand. They know what they have to get done and knew know and they know how to make it look good."

Forrest is optimistic for the squad's future.

"We're hoping to do better even though we won," she said.

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