Published: May 06, 2008 11:48 am            

C-H-E-E-R for Edmond youth sports teams

High school student starts cheerleading league

EDMOND — Not every parent can afford the never-ending expenses of putting their child on a competitive cheerleading team. Catie Mathis, a pom squad member at Edmond Santa Fe High School, wanted to make sure every child, regardless of skill, disability or gender, had an affordable opportunity to perform routines in front of a crowd.

She recently obtained a proclamation from Mayor Dan O’Neil and started the Edmond Youth Recreational Cheerleading League. Registration for the league will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the cheer gym at Edmond Santa Fe High School.

“This is recreation,” said Julie Mathis, Catie’s mother. “It’s supposed to be fun.”

Catie said she grew up in Broken Arrow cheering for a recreational league. She was about to become a coach for the league at 16-years-old, but her family moved to Edmond.

“She truly believes her confidence and ability to work in a group setting was due to her participation in a recreational league,” Julie Mathis said.

When Catie discovered Edmond didn’t have a recreational cheerleading league, she decided to start one.

“I saw how big of a deal it was for little girls and wanted to give them an opportunity more than once a year,” Catie said.

Parents pay a one-time fee of $275, which pays for a uniform, pompons, camp and insurance. Julie Mathis said there are no other additional fees or fundraisers.

“(Catie) is determined that this will help little girls who can’t do competitive teams because of money,” she said.

The league is open to any child who will be in third- through seventh-grades by fall 2008. Julie Mathis said children with disabilities are welcome to join as long as parents are willing to stand on the sidelines with them.

“No child is turned away, regardless of disability or gender,” Julie said.

Catie said members from six Edmond Public Schools pom and cheerleading teams will coach participants a few hours each week. In exchange, the high school students will receive points toward graduation and their squads will receive a portion of registration funds.

“We don’t want it to be parent driven,” Julie said. “It’s a totally kid-friendly environment.”

Children will be taught basic tumbling, jumps, cheers, stunts and dance routines, Catie said. Participants will be divided into squads of 10 to 15 according to what grade they are in.

The squads will cheer each week on the sidelines and perform dances at half time for the Edmond All-Sports Inc. tackle football teams. EASI is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing league sports for Edmond youth and is not affiliated with EYRC.

“They’re getting to be in front of a crowd and perform,” Catie said. “It’ll be simple things but it will be active.”

She said this a great way to get children outside and involved in the community.

The cheerleading league will begin with a cheer camp from 5-8 p.m. July 7-11 in Mitch Park.

Catie said about 30 participants already have signed up for the league, but she’d like to have a total of 250 participants. Julie said they would like to have a small cheerleading squad for every tackle football team.

“I’m really wanting it to be a growing program,” she said.

        

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