ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 19, 1996 TAG: 9612190020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
It shouldn't be such a rarity. At least, you wouldn't expect it to be. Head out to a Virginia Tech or Radford University game and it is, in fact, the norm.
So why are male cheerleaders so scarce around the New River Valley high school scene?
That's a question the Blacksburg High School cheerleaders would like to find an answer to themselves. The Indians team is composed of eight girls and one guy, a ratio members hope to see changed one day.
There have been male cheerleaders on the sidelines at Blacksburg games for the past four years, but the team continues to struggle with interest. One guy is better than none for both stunting purposes and diversity, but two or three would be better.
"It's hard to build with just one guy because none of us can match up with him," co-captain Christie Jones said. "Nathan [Cumbee] is learning how to do things on his own, but it makes it hard for him. We try to help but we don't really know how."
Cumbee is trying to dispel the stereotype of male cheerleaders as wimps in hopes of drawing greater numbers for tryouts. For Cumbee, it's easy. There's little doubt of anyone feeling justified in calling this 6-foot-2 260-pound guy a wimp and getting away with it.
Cumbee was the New River District wrestling champion in the heavyweight division as a sophomore, finishing third in the Group AA Region IV tournament as well. When numerous back injuries, including a cracked vertebrae and a bone chip that was pressing against his spinal cord, began to frighten doctors, he was forced to walk away from the sport he loved.
"My back kept getting aggravated and the doctor was scared it would get worse," Cumbee said. "I have a degenerative disorder of the lower spine that will one day prohibit me from walking. But I didn't want to let it have the best of me now, so I've finally learned to just get past it. Cheerleading allows me to stay active, and I can do any of the lifts, as long as I don't twist my back."
Blacksburg will compete in its first Blue Ridge District competition Feb. 15, and would like to add more males to increase its level of difficulty. Jones and co-captain Crystal Albert will continue to work with Virginia Tech student and volunteer Christi Stevens to choreograph their competition routine throughout the winter break and will begin practicing for competition when school resumes.
Between now and then, the Indians have opened the door for guys who would be interested in participating on the competition squad without cheering at games to try out for the team.
Blacksburg is also working to increase, perhaps double, its number of cheerleaders next season.
"Our squad is really good and we have a lot of potential, but with eight people you can only do so many different things," Jones said. "But once you get in high school people think it's harder to try something new. Hopefully we can change some minds."
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Alan Kim. Under the watchful eyes of spotter Crystalby CNBAlbert, Nathan Cumbee concentrates on catching Christie Jones in his
arms. color.