An Outrageous Omission

To the Editor:

There is a varsity team of athletes at Newtown High School that attends over 30 games per year, participates in 14 hours of strenuous practice per week, and brings home a first, second, or third place trophy in eight competitions per year. The athletes pay $50 Pay-for-Play each season and are listed first in the Newtown High School Student Activity Planner under Varsity Sports. Look as diligently as you will, but you won’t find the team in The Bee’s 2001 Fall Sports Preview! This is an outrage! The Varsity Cheerleading Squad has been overlooked, ignored, unnoticed.

Some years ago, I coached varsity cheerleading for eight years. Back then, in the Dark Ages of Cheerleading, the participants were treated as Kewpie dolls, girls who were supposed to provide visual candy to fans. All that stopped when I became coach. I held my athletes to higher standards than any other sport. I opened up the sport to males, made each athlete take rigorous tests about the rules and regulations of any sport for which they cheer, and attempted to break the persistent stereotypes that cheerleaders were not athletes. My squads rewarded me with excellence and pride.

I’ve watched the Newtown Varsity Cheerleading Squad consistently for the last four years. The athletes perform challenging stunts and maneuvers. They perform professionally and take their responsibilities seriously. Their demeanor on the football field, basketball court, soccer field, or at competitions demonstrates their balance of control, agility, competence, and charisma. I can only imagine what the senior captains felt when they reached for the Fall Sports Preview eager to see their squad honored. What a crushing disappointment that The Bee deprived those athletes of their place in that special section! The Bee owes those athletes an apology and restitution. I suggest that a sportswriter should call Newtown High School and arrange for an in-depth article and photo shoot of those amazing athletes. I’ve always considered The Bee to be a progressive newspaper. Don’t put cheerleading back into the Dark Ages! Those steadfast, reliable athletes need to be recognized – Now!

Anita R. Holtz, Ph.D.

131 Toddy Hill Road, Sandy Hook September 18, 2001