Male cheerleader flips into school cheer history

by Carley Thomas
5.25.10

It’s not every day that one sees a boy in a cheerleading uniform leading the crowd in chants at the high school football game. But for PL South, seeing a male cheerleader will soon become part of the high school experience. Sophomore Trevor Wolfe has tumbled his way into school history as the first male cheerleader, bringing a new dimension to the cheer program.

“I tried out because I wanted to be involved in something to support my school,” Wolfe said. “Since I really enjoy gymnastics, it was a good fit for me.”

Head varsity cheer coach Cecilia Neiman expressed her excitement toward the new asset to the team as she shared positive first impressions.

“He is a very nice boy that is respectful and well-liked by the girls,” Neiman said. “He is laid back and eager to learn. He’s also a very good gymnast. That will add a lot of athleticism to the squad.”

According to Wolfe’s gymnastics coach Todd Crouse, because of his gymnastics background, he loves to compete.

“I have coached Trevor for about seven years,” Crouse said. “He always works really hard and wants to perfect his skills. He is improving his confidence and I am really proud of him.”

As an avid tumbler, Wolfe is excited for the next year as a cheerleader.

“I’m looking forward to competitions and camp,” Wolfe said. “I really like a competitive atmosphere.”

Cheer camp is a week-long event where the cheerleaders get away to bond with each other, learn technique and compete with other squads.

Because PL South will be taking a male with them to camp this summer, it may raise a few challenges.

“Trevor will get a different uniform and do a few things differently,” Neiman said. “We don’t want him doing feminine motions, so he will be more directed towards crowd involvement. As for cheer camp, he will have his own room. About half of the instructors at camp are men, so he will learn more there from them than he will here.”

Other than the obvious differences between him and the girls, Wolfe doesn’t believe that his role on the team is any different than the others.

“It’s really not that different,” Wolfe said. “I’ll be doing the same things that they will be doing except I get to yell through a megaphone. I’m pretty excited about that.”

A difficulty that Wolfe has already faced, and is sure he will continue to have to deal with, is being classified as a conventional male cheerleader.

“I’m not looking forward to being stereotyped,” Wolfe said. “It already has happened and I just ignore it. But I don’t understand why people feel like they have to be haters about it when I’m just trying to support our school.”

But overall, this new addition is a big step for the school, according to Neiman.

“Hopefully this piques interest in other males,” Neiman said. “The Monarchs have a male cheerleader and male cheerleaders are popular on the East Coast and in colleges.”

Male cheerleaders are not typical, and even Wolfe admits that it is a little odd to be the only guy.

“Well yeah it’s a little weird,” Wolfe said. “But I get to hang out with these girls all by myself.”

Erin Huskey/The Torch