Learning the ropes

Cheerleaders learn trust and teamwork by riding zip lines, climbing walls and more.

By MICHELE MILLER
Published July 18, 2007

Land O'Lakes High School cheerleader Monique Clayton lets out a scream as she hurdles forward off a platform and along the zipline at the Gills Family YMCA ropes course in Trinity. The varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders completed the four-hour course that included rock wall and net climbing, the zip line and other activities designed to build trust and foster teamwork.
	[Times photo: Brendan Fitterer]

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Brendan Fitterer] With her arms crossed and eyes closed, Land O'Lakes cheerleader Kayla Zonni takes a step off the platform and a leap of faith backwards as her teammates catch her.

TRINITY - Lauren White stood frozen high on a wooden platform.

Three turkey vultures circled overhead. Below, a couple of dragonflies flitted back and forth, engaged in a happy dance of sorts with a giant swallowtail butterfly.

And Lauren's fellow squad members, dressed in trademark practice attire - blue shorts and white tank tops - swatted at pesky deerflies and urged their terrified teammate to move.

"You're almost there! You're almost there! You're almost there!"

"Put it forward."

"Come on, Lauren - you can DO it!"

Beside her stood 23-year-old Josh Thomas, offering words of encouragement. As a facilitator on the ropes course at the James P. Gills YMCA, he had seen this kind of frozen terror plenty of times before. Even though the tethered harness assured a safe ride.

The ropes course was part of a four-hour program Tuesday meant to build trust and a strong bond between 45 members of the varsity and junior varsity cheerleader squad members at Land O'Lakes High School.

And sure, some of them were fearless.

Take Jade Valdez. When it was her time to fly down the zip line she simply grinned, kicked both feet overhead and sailed upside down in a tucked position - "Spiderman style."

"Just don't think about it when you're doing it," Thomas told Lauren, 17, who was still shaking in her sneakers.

"It's that first initial drop - that's what gets you," said ropes facilitator Mike Genovese, 32, as he watched from below. "Once you go, then it's fun."

After a minute or two Lauren took yet another deep breath, closed her eyes and finally took the plunge as others hooted and hollered their approval.

Nothing fancy like Jade, but she did it. Made her way to the end, safe and sound.

Accomplishment, courage, teamwork and all that jazz.

"I'm just glad it's over," said a visibly relieved Lauren.

Well not quite.

Climbing the rock wall, crossing the rope bridge and flying down the zip line were just the first part of Tuesday's program.

There was some other stuff to get to - an icebreaker called "Have you ever ... ", the "team wall" and the "trust fall" where participants climb a not-so-high platform and fall blindly backward into the arms of their teammates.

That's the kind of thing you need to be able to do if you're a flier on the cheerleader squad.

They've been working hard on stunting, jump techniques and just getting to know each other since school got out in May, said varsity head coach Celisa Cook.

It's all preparation for a special camp that will be held next week at the University of South Florida, the upcoming football and basketball seasons and all those competitions.

"I'm amazed how far they've come," said Cook, before climbing the wall to take her own turn riding the zip line.

Michele Miller can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6251 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505. Her e-mail is miller@sptimes.com. 

. if you go

Cheer clinic

The Land O'Lakes High School cheerleaders will host a Cheer Clinic for those ages 4 and older from 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 25 at Land O'Lakes High School, 20235 Gator Lane. Cost is $35 and includes a T-shirt and free admission to the first varsity football game. Call Susan Campbell at 813 996-9592.

[Last modified July 17, 2007, 22:00:38]