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Highlands Today

A Dream With Real Spirit

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

From left: The Sebring High School varsity cheer squad including Head Coach Carolyn Shoemaker and Assistant Coach Maurice Williams. Shoemaker was recently named to the USA Cheer board of directors.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: October 28, 2008

SEBRING - Carolyn Shoemaker has a dream.

One day, she'd like to see a group of co-ed cheerleaders band together and orchestrate a series of tumbles and stunts that make the audience stand up and cheer.

Then for all their hard work and months - possibly years - of sweat and determination they reach the pinnacle of any athletic dream, to stand on the podium and receive an Olympic medal.

"It still has a ways to go, but I'd love for one day to have the sport of cheerleading given the kind of respect that any other team sport receives," Shoemaker said. "It all begins now, and hopefully one day we'll be accepted."

Shoemaker, who has coached the Sebring Blue Streak varsity cheerleaders for the past 21 years, was recently named to the Board of Directors for USA Cheer - the only high school coach to be named to such an honor.

"It all happened so fast, really," Shoemaker said. "I got a call from Jeff Webb (President of USA Cheer) and he asked if I'd be on the board of directors. What impressed me was that the focus would stay at the high school level. That's where it all begins."

Shoemaker has been a pillar for the Blue Streaks cheerleading squad since its infancy back in 1987. Since then, she's watched participation grow from just a handful to a waiting list to join the varsity squad.

But the Sebring coach insists she's made her share of mistakes through the years and is still learning and evolving as a coach. She said she hasn't forgotten the most important aspect of her success.

"I align myself with knowledgeable and successful people who have the kids' best interests at heart," Shoemaker said.

One of her mentors has been Linda Gooch, cheerleading head coach at the University of Central Florida, who gave Shoemaker loads of tips and tricks of the trade while assistant coach Ginny Hitt choreographed the routines for the team.

The Blue Streak varsity cheerleaders recently took first place in the large school co-ed division at the inaugural Florida High School Athletic Association's Competitive Cheerleading Championships in March.

The addition of male cheerleaders is one of the aspects of the sport that's helped raise cheerleading's success to new heights.

"We had two men earn cheerleading college scholarships last year," Shoemaker said. "For men, it's so much easier to get into college if you've got solid skills as a cheerleader. If a boy has tumbling skills and can perform a stunt, then he's in high demand."

Shoemaker has seen 15 of her kids earn scholarships during her tenure, including Steven Little, who was a member of the national championship team at UCF and Nick Crowe, who became the first male freshman varsity cheerleader at the University of Florida.

"It all comes back to the kids," Shoemaker said. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them."

The thrill of being involved in helping the sport grow internationally also appealed to Shoemaker, who realizes that if cheerleading is ever to be an Olympic sport, it must grow outside the confines of the United States.

"There is a real excitement about the possibilities and growth potential for the sport," Shoemaker said. "The response we've seen outside the United States to cheerleading has been fantastic and continues to grow."

According to the International Olympic Committee Charter, to be considered as an Olympic sport, a sport must first be practiced by men in at least 75 countries and four continents, and by women in at least 40 countries and three continents.

However, in order to become a full Olympic sport, the sport in question must have a governing International Federation in order for the IOC to officially recognize them as a sport.

The governing body has to then file an application to become a demonstration sport. After that, the sport may file another application to officially become a fully recognized Olympic sport.

April of 2009 will mark the first international cheerleading competition, which will be held at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando - the first step in making cheerleading an Olympic sport. But next month, Shoemaker will be a self-described sponge at her first USA Cheer board meeting in Dallas.

One of the items on the docket will be the selection of a co-ed and all-girl cheerleading teams that will represent the United States at the international competition.

"USA Cheer has a clear vision and a goal," Shoemaker said. "I can't wait to hear what that goal and vision are and how I might be able to help make it come to fruition.

"What I'm really excited about is that I'll be on the ground level of this organization and hopefully I can help formulate the safety guidelines and make sure this stay's a virtually safe sport."

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5827 or at choffman@highlandstoday.com.

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