Fall Sports Preview: Co-ed Cheerleading

Coaches: Five years ago, Christian Friese had never been to Marin County, much less Drake High School, when she saw that a cheerleader from the school had posted on cheerleading website that the squad was going to lose the program unless they found a coach. Friese, who was a cheerleader at Portland State and Oregon State, has been coaching youth cheerleading for 11 years.

After seeing the call for help online, Friese called the Athletic Director, got directions to Drake, and has spent the last five years turning the squad into a national-level team.

"A lot of times when I get them it's their first exposure to cheerleading," said Friese, who works with them to develop their gymnastics and tumbling. Drake, she said, "has been super supportive."

This year, she'll be joined by Jenna Kuhmann, who works with the Central Marin Chargers cheerleading program.

Highlights of 2009 Season: Although cheerleading is considered an MCAL varsity sport, there is no MCAL Championship and schools participate in competitions of their own accord. A number of years ago, MCAL used to host a showcase of the cheerleading squads, but haven't recently.

The Drake squad competes in a competition camp during the summer and is considering competing in regional, state and national competitions for the first time this year.

At the National Cheerleading Association camp over the summer at UC Davis, the squad won a number of awards. They brought home the Champion Chant Trophy (awarded for the best sideline performance – like one would see at a football or basketball game), the Spirit Stick, the Spirit Megaphone (voted on by all the teams at camp), and won a bid to the national competition in March.

Returning Cheerleaders: The squad holds tryouts in the spring, because they have to be ready for summer competitions and the fall football season. Despite this, the squad does have one freshman, who tried out as an eight-grader. The squad also has a handful of guys who have come out for the team, giving the squad a more professional and collegiate appearance, said Friese.

Only one senior graduated from last year's team and nearly half the squad is returning for this year. Those returning include three All-Americans.

Eleven members of the team were nominated for All-American honors at the summer competition camp. All eleven then tried out and three received the award: Hannah Evans, Morgan Clymer, and Deshawn Moncrief. Those three will be invited to represent the National Cheerleading Association at a number of special events and performances.

Along with preparing for competitions and supporting the football and boys and girls basketball teams, the squad attends a tumbling class at San Rafael Gymnastics once a week.

"A backspring is like a good tackle for a football player," said Friese.

The group is working on their tumbling, co-ed stunts that involve the boys lifting the girls, pyramids that involve all 15 members of the team, and high basket tosses that throw one of the cheerleaders up in the air.

Despite all their hard work, the squad still has to work to convince people they are athletes. It's "rare," said Friese for a school to recognize the cheerleading program as a varsity sport.

For anyone who doubts their athletic ability, Friese invites them to come to a practice.

"If it's just an 'activity', then they can come and try a practice. And they'll see just how athletic it is," she said.

JV: There is no JV squad yet, though Friese is hopeful that they'll be able to add a JV team in the next few yeas. The squad does hold a smaller try-out in the fall to give freshmen the opportunity to join the team and to decide if they need to take any more cheerleaders on before the basketball season.

Just five years ago, there were only five cheerleaders on the squad. The team has come a long way since then.