Gators find rahs in weight room

Land O'Lakes cheerleaders discover that hoisting barbells helps their appearance and routines.

By STEVE LEE

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 22, 2000

LAND O'LAKES -- Next fall, the Land O'Lakes cheerleading pyramid is sure to be sturdier than ever. And the girls forming the human triangle likely will be stronger than their predecessors.

A dozen cheerleaders are working on their muscles and toning their physiques as part of the Land O'Lakes girls weightlifting team, which numbers a school-record 24 members in its third season. In the sport's first two seasons, the team rosters numbered 12 and 15 with only two cheerleaders.

This season, the cheerleaders have helped the Gators to two second-place finishes in tri-meets and a victory over Wesley Chapel.

"They're real enthused about it," Land O'Lakes coach Vicky King said. "They're young and they want to get better."

Cheerleading coach Kim Saavedra recommended weightlifting to the Land O'Lakes cheerleaders, who agree that lifting weights can be beneficial for their routines.

"She said it would be good for us. I have fun," said junior varsity cheerleader Lauren Chaves, a freshman who has one victory in the 108-pound class.

Chaves also is pleased with how weightlifting has affected her appearance.

"I feel buff. I feel strong," she said. "Everyone thinks I'm a little puny and I get up (on the mat to clean-and-jerk) and people are like, "Whoa!' "

It also helps to get some encouragement from schoolmates. Walking into the weight room to pump iron after school Monday, Land O'Lakes running back Godfrey Pestana chose to boost Katelyn Wojciek's confidence level.

"She's going to dominate Pasco County," Pestana blurted out as Wojciek blushed.

A freshman on the varsity cheerleading squad, Wojciek has increased her bench press by 20 pounds to 105 since the first day of practice in February.

"I couldn't lift anything. I lifted the bar," Wojciek said.

Freshman Brittany Austin, who at 5-foot-8 is the Gators' biggest lifter, has a first- and second-place finish this season. Austin, who is not involved in any other sport, said she joined the team "to keep in shape. I wanted to build strength. I'm big, I'm just not strong."

One of the strongest Land O'Lakes lifters is Dana Kearney, who has played football in the Pasco Police Athletic League and posted a 14-13 record as a freshman wrestler for Land O'Lakes' boys team.

"(Her teammates on the wrestling team) always say I don't have upper body strength and this is building upper body strength," Kearney said.

Kearney and freshman Casie Poyssick, the second-leading scorer for the Land O'Lakes girls soccer team, are the first ones at practice and the last ones to leave, King said.

Mandy Stephens, who finished third in the 152 class at last year's SAC meet, is in her third season, which makes her the most experienced Gator.

Stephens, who relishes the spotlight as a goalkeeper for the Land O'Lakes soccer team, is attracted to weightlifting for the same reason.

"It's something you can do as an individual, but it's a team sport," Stephens said.

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