UPDATE: MASON, MI - Typically when a person thinks of a gym, a mat, and a competition, they do not think of this sport. Wrestling may come to mind or maybe even gymnastics. It's a sport that is usually in the background and unrecognized unless an accident happens. It's high school competitive cheerleading and the coaches and athletes of this sport have a strong passion for what they do.

"I've been cheering since I was in second or third grade," said Hayley Owens, Haslett High School Cheerleader. "I like to stunt, which is throwing people up in the air. Showing the crowd really cool stunts that people can do."

When first arriving at a competition you may see make-up, hair spray, skirts, and hear a lot of yelling and clapping that can predetermine your view about this sport, but behind the scenes it is something completely different.

"The girls get tired, they get sore, they get injured, just like any other athlete, and it really does take a lot of skill to be a high school cheerleader," said Sam Saracco, Haslett Varsity Cheerleading Co-Coach. "You need to be able to stunt, tumble, be flexible, and you need to have the endurance just like any football or basketball player would."

So what do the cheerleaders have to say when people tell them cheerleading is not a sport?

"We're just like every other sports team," said Madison Tahaney, Haslett High School Cheerleader. "We do a lot of conditioning and a lot of working, you have to have a lot of muscle and strength to do what we do."






















ORIGINAL STORY: MASON, MI - The Haslett Competitive Cheer team competed in the Mason Invitational at Mason High School on Saturday, February 4th against 16 other schools. Watch Meridian Magazine and All-Access to see what the coaches and players had to say about their sport.