Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 12/5/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Courtesy of UH Athletics The University of Hawai‘i cheer squad has earned the No. 1 seed in the West Region heading into the UCA National Championship competition in Orlando, Fla., for the third straight year.

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is well-known for its great athletes, whether it be in football, volleyball or basketball, but those who are sometimes forgotten are the ones who keep the school and its fans spirited. The UH cheerleaders are constantly positive and have worked hard to protect the reputation of not only UH, but the state of Hawai‘i as well.

The cheerleaders have been a nationally ranked team for the last three years, placing third in 2005 and seventh last year. This year, the cheerleaders earned the No. 1 seed for the West Region, giving them a place in the Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championship competition, which will be held in mid-January in Orlando and be aired on ESPN in late February.

The squad has received the West Region's No. 1 seed three years in a row, sending it directly to the final round with a paid bid, which covers travel, hotel and entry fees.

The cheerleaders attend football games, women's volleyball games and basketball games for both the men and women. Mike Baker, their head coach, says a lot of the cheerleaders' time goes to supporting UH athletics elsewhere.

"We work really hard to stay spirited, and not only do we attend UH games, but we also do a lot of outside work. We basically go wherever we're needed," he said.

Baker has coached the UH cheer squad for five years and was a cheerleader himself at UH until 1996. Prior to coaching at UH, he coached cheerleading at the University of Washington for seven years.

"It's great coaching this team. Everyone trusts and relies on each other, and the fans really take pride and respect the cheerleaders," Baker said.

The UH cheerleaders are part of a large coed team that consists of an equal amount of males and females. Only half of them are from O‘ahu. Baker said that while other schools start practicing as early as April, the UH squad doesn't meet until mid-August because half of the team is from the mainland.

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