Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

Another change for VWC cheering

By lauren paolino

lepaolino@vwc.edu

Change and I have never been friends. When I was in high school I straightened my hair on a whim. For the next three days I cried. Eventually I got used to it, and soon enough my curly fro grew back. Why am I talking about change? Because the Virginia Wesleyan College cheerleading team needed a coach and Amanda Lyons was hired.

Coming here as a freshman scared and nervous, there was one thing I swore that I was going to do, cheer. Since I had cheered my whole life, it was something I wouldn t have to change when starting college and living out of state. I also hoped I could make friends and when I came to the first tryout I met some amazing people, some of which are my best friends.

Then I met Coach Sarah Foley, who became like a mom and a friend to us. She listened to us complain about our problems and was there any time of day. But most cheerleading coaches are paid hourly and are not given many hours; she was available to us at practice and a few hours during the day. For example, on Fridays (when we had a two hour practice off campus) Coach Foley came out of her love for cheerleading and the team. Most people couldn t do what she did; she only got paid for a minute part of her job. At the end of the 2006-2007 cheerleading season she resigned. Could I handle another change in my life as a cheerleader and a Marlin?

Soon after that, Amanda Lyons was instated as our new coach. But like my new hair, I m adjusting and accepting what I see. I like Coach Lyons; she s tough while being nice and very easy to talk to. When I emailed her, I was emailed back ASAP. She has everything together: practice schedule, rules and regulations. Anything we needed she had. Even though change feels like my world is being turned upside-down, good changes will be coming about.

To admit it, I m really excited about try outs and (hopefully) this coming season. Since this is bringing a new opportunity I feel that Coach Lyons is going to do a great job. She has a lot of experience coaching and working under pressure. So for the first time I m going to actually be excited about a change.