2008 Woodie Awards
De Anza Cheer and Dance Team finishes award winning debut season
Geraldine Escalona
Issue date: 4/24/06 Section: Sports
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The De Anza College Cheer and Dance Team dispels the typical image of cheerleaders. They are more like the girls next door.
They are about meeting new people, forming friendships, welcoming new members of different backgrounds and learning about each other.
"It's been great," said Magdalena Garcia, a nursing student, who has been with the team for two years. "I really like joining this team because usually I'm really shy. This team kind of made me break out of that shyness."
"The team progressed from doing just cheers on the sidelines to actually doing half time routines, and competing now. We've come a long way," said C.J. Jones, coach and club adviser for the Cheer Team and director of the Lifetime Fitness Center at De Anza.
Unlike other cheerleading teams, the cheer team does not hold tryouts, and welcomes new members year round.
"We take people with experience and without experience," said Jones. "As long as they have the motivation and they're willing to work hard, they are welcome to join."
The team members have a range of cheerleading experiences from several years to none. "I've never cheered before. I've always wanted to learn but I never had the courage before to join," said Jolyna Chu, art and design student. This is her first quarter with the cheer team.
"I've been cheerleading since junior high. The kind of unity and teamwork and closeness that a squad has is just very important," said Amanda Silva, biochemistry and sociology student, who has been with the cheer team for six months.
"They are just a very energetic group. They don't outcast anybody. They take everybody in no matter if they've had experience or not."
During a typical week, the cheer team, which is currently comprised of all women (although they are looking for men to join the team) meets Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Fitness Center.
Jones coaches the team outside her regular work time. "I try to get the squad to work together for choreography for dances, because you pull a little bit from everybody and it's a lot more creative, a lot more fun. And then I work on formations and transitions with the team," Jones said.
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