With cheerleading stunts getting more daring, devastating injuries are increasing. Laura Jackson broke her neck while attempting a back tuck at cheer tryouts. She’s now a quadriplegic, adjusting to a new life on the sidelines.
Posted on 05/20/2010 11:24:14 AM PDT by re_tail20
Cheerleading was at the center of Laura Jackson’s life since she began shaking pom-poms for a pee-wee football team in the third grade.
At 14, she dreamed of cheering in high school and then, maybe college. But on the day of tryouts for the freshman high school squad in Livonia, Mich., those plans were shattered.
That afternoon, as her turn arrived, she got ready to perform a back tuck, a challenging gymnastics move she’d learned just for tryouts. She eyed her spotter, a girl just three years older than herself, and took a running start across the gymnasium floor before launching into the flip.
She still doesn’t know quite what went wrong, but she didn’t make it all the way around; she smacked her neck against the ground, skidding so hard that a piece of her blond ponytail ripped from her scalp.
No one in the room realized how grave her injury was.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
With cheerleading stunts getting more daring, devastating injuries are increasing. Laura Jackson broke her neck while attempting a back tuck at cheer tryouts. She’s now a quadriplegic, adjusting to a new life on the sidelines.
Dangerous and stupid. No need for stupid tricks.
I’m sexy, I’m cute! I’m popular to boot!
I’m bitchin’, great hair! The boys all love to stare!
I’m wanted, I’m hot! I’m everything your not!
I’m pretty, I’m cool! I dominate the school!
Who am I? Just guess! Guys wanna touch my chest!
I’m rockin’! I smile! And many think I’m vile.
I’m flyin’, I jump! You can look but don’t you hump! Whoo!
I’m major, I roar! I swear I’m not a whore!
We cheer and we lead! We act like we’re on speed!
Hate us cause we’re beautiful well we don’t like you either!
We’re cheerleaders! We are cheerleaders! Roll call!
Call me Big Red!
I’m Wh Wh Whitney
C C C Courtney! Roar!
Judith Darcy!
I’m Big Bad Carver! Yeah!
Just call me Kasey! O!
I’M STILL! BIG RED!
I sizzle, I scorch! But now I pass the torch!
The ballots, are in! And one girl had to win!
She’s perky, she’s fun! And now she’s number one!
cute, cute cute Torrance! T T T Torrance!
*Music introducing Torrance*
I’m strong and I’m loud! I’m gonna make you proud!
I’m T T Torrance! Your captain Torrance!
Let’s, go, Toros! (three applausses) We are the Toros! The mighty mighty Toros!
We’re so terrific! WE MUST BE THE TOROS!
*background yells, screams! etc*
You assume cheerleading has something to do with the sport being played on the field.
Oh, silly me. I always thought thats what cheer leading was “cheer leading”.
Ping!
After personally watching a cheer group toss a girl into the air and then all back away as she fell flat to the ground, I place the blame on lack of coaching.
Girls! Every one of you MUST BE IN PLACE TO CATCH HER!
They were clearly uncomfortable with positioning themselves under a twisting figure, unable to anticipate her orientation, on the way down.
mi ping
having been a cheerleader, and knowing many.. i can only say that many of these girls in competitive cheer are insane- but they’ve got more cojones than most of the guys playing contact sports. these girls continue with broken fingers and toes, sprains, fractured ankles, torn ligaments, and concussions.
What scares me the most is the lack of proper training for these gymnastic stunts. My daughter trained to Level 10 gymnastics before giving it up. I can spot a gymnastics-trained cheerleader and an “I wanna be a cheerleader” cheerleader a mile away.
I don’t consider 73 serious injuries in 26 years to be a major epidemic. On a percentage basis it’s probably the same as automotive crash injuries of the same nature.
Yeah, cheering and good looking girls in skimpy outfits. I loved our cheer leaders and not one of them could do a back flip or tuck and roll. They did make up some catchy cheers however.
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They should be honest about this crap, it isn't cheerleading, its group gymnastics pure and simple.
You never see those intricate routines performed on the sidelines at high school football or basketball games which is what real cheerleading is all about............
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Plus, there’s always one who doesn’t wear panties, and the young fellers get injured when they fall down the bleachers trying to crane their heads for a look. Thanks grellis.
Darn! She’s higher than the stadium lights!!!
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