‘It’s not all about looking pretty’

Aimée Grandidge, 21, currently in her last year at Sunderland University studying Film and Media studies, founded a Cheerleading squad called the Sunderland Stars less than two years ago. “Cheerleading isn’t all about looking pretty and dancing,” said Aimee. “It’s a hard core gymnastic sport which takes dedication, strength and determination.”

Aimée decided to start the squad after going to watch one of her friends train at Newcastle. Aimée thought that Cheerleading looked fun and exciting. After her first year of University she decided she hated not being part of a sports club and did not feel like anything that was on offer was right for her.

Aimée went to visit her dad who lives in New York, in the summer of 2006 and did some researching into cheerleading. She watched lots of videos and bought a book which coaches on how to stunt and jump. Over the summer she asked some of her friends if they would want to help her set up the Cheerleading squad. After emailing the University and them expressing their excitement about the sports society, Aimée began to prepare for freshers fayre, where sports societies and clubs enroll new members.

Cheerleading is a sport that uses organised routines made from elements of tumbling, dance, jumps and stunting to cheer on sports teams and compete in competitions. It is a sport that has wide participation and the typical stereotype of a cheerleader does not take into account the athletic talents required to compete.

Sunderland Stars in local club Blu Bambu

Currently Aimée’s squad consists of 22 girls cheering at American football games and competitions. But she knows it’s not all fun and games.

“It takes a lot of dedication to do cheerleading as a sport,” said Aimée, “and people don’t give us a lot of credit. When they think about cheerleaders they stereotype us as dancing around with pom poms in short skirts. It really aggravates me when they say that because the truth is a lot of the girls who have joined have dropped out because they find it such hard work and there are only a few people who make the grade.”

The typical stereotype of a cheerleading has been perceived by films like ‘Bring it on’ that trivialise the skills needed to be a cheerleader.

“In our first year we took a lot of stick off other sports clubs and societies especially female ones,” says Aimee, “and it seemed that before anyone actually gave us a chance to prove ourselves we were rated as rubbish. I think this is because people expect cheerleading to be easy, but in reality its not.”

The work that goes into performing stunts, jumps, tumbling and dance is gruelling. All the cheerleaders have two training sessions of three hours a week and regularly attend extra tumbling classes for two hours a week. Aimée has coached the squad using a coaching guide-book, as she’s found it impossible to attract a cheerleading coach in the North East who does not already coach other competing squads. But that has had its benefits.

“All of the girls on the squad are really close and I think that’s due to the amount of teamwork that goes into it,” Aimee continues. “In a basic stunt everyone has a part to play not just the people who are getting lifted and look cool, if one of the lifters or spotters mess up the whole thing collapses so you have to work together well.”

“I didn’t think that the university’s morale was very high and I thought that maybe the support of a cheerleading squad would encourage this. I love being a cheerleader, I’m proud that I started a team which anyone can join and meet new friends, learn new skills and it’s so much fun too. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Varsity is a sporting event that happens ever year between all of the University of Sunderland’s sporting teams and Teesside University. Last year, Aimée’s squad lost by 10 points due to not including a basket toss which she has told me is being included in the upcoming competition. Varsity is being held at home on 12th March and the Sunderland Stars are competing against Teesside Wildcats who have a coach and have been cheering for five years.

“I really want to win so that we can prove to other teams that we are sportsmen,” says Aimee, “and that we have a skill and aren’t just blonde bimbo air headed cheerleaders like they assume.”