MHS graduate is cheerleader at KU
By MATT NEWHOUSE
News Editor
Keep your eye on the edges of the court when watching University of Kansas basketball games.
Leah Arnhold, a 1998 Marion High School graduate, is a KU cheerleader.
It's serious work, easily consuming 15 hours a week with workouts, practices, games, and appearances.
She is a junior, majoring in accounting.
Arnhold spent two years as a cheerleader at MHS. During a cheerleading camp before her senior year, she met a coach from Fort Hays State University, who encouraged her to pursue college cheerleading.
She enjoyed her time at Fort Hays, being named co-captain her sophomore year. As part of the athletic department, cheerleaders had access to all the athletic facilities, including the weight and training rooms.
However, the squad spent much of its time making public appearances.
"A restaurant's opening up, we would make an appearance there," she said. "A new store opens, they would ask for the cheerleaders."
Arnhold took a year off from school to work but a friend at KU kept encouraging her to attend.
In April she tried out for the squad, making the preliminary rounds and winning a spot.
The real work began in late July, when the squad reported to Lawrence.
They started with all-day practices, then went to two-a-day practices before shifting to evenings. Since the squad had many new faces, they spent a great deal of time bonding as a team.
They spent four days in Dallas at a national camp, where they worked on techniques and competed in events. The squad earned an invitation to a national cheerleading competition in April in Daytona Beach, Fla.
About half the squad returned from last year. Current squad members have to compete in the final round to earn a spot on next year's squad.
Most are transfers. Division I cheerleaders are expected to know the basics when they try out, Arnhold said, so most have participated at smaller universities or junior colleges.
Cheerleading focuses on the team aspect, not individuality. For example, all KU cheerleaders must wear the same type of makeup, hair ribbons, and hairstyles.
They have two blue uniforms and one white. By tradition, uniforms only say "Kansas" not KU or Jayhawks.
In the fall they cheer for volleyball and football, with football drawing the most attention.
Football
During football season, the squad arrives two or three hours before game time. They visit tailgate parties, greet fans, and pose with children at kids' activities.
During a game, cheerleading captains have wide latitude in their performances, though some are standard, such as the line cheer when the team makes a first down.
Pyramids, basket tosses, and other stunts tend to get even more dramatic in the second half, particularly if the game is out of hand.
"If the game is boring, we do more," she said. "The school wants to keep people in their seats, and that means more challenging stunts."
They take turns attending away games, usually flying in the night before. Arnhold attended one away game, at Texas Tech.
Halfway through the season, they start work on basketball stunts.
Basketball requires different techniques because they must stay seated most of the time, just behind the baskets. They only lead chants and cheers before the game or during timeouts.
What's it like having the best seats in the house for a KU game?
"There are no words," she said. "There's so much pride, so much energy. That school really loves its basketball team."
Arnhold said the crowd erupts when the players come out, but it explodes when Roy Williams follows a few seconds later.
"That's when the crowd goes nuts," she said.
Of course, the only problem with the best seats in the house is that an errant ball could put a 250-pound center in your lap.
"You just scoot real fast," Arnhold said with a laugh. "But it doesn't happen all that often."
If KU advances to post-season play, a traveling squad will go with the team. Cheerleaders are selected based on particular skills needed that the cheerleading coach wants to feature.
The squad usually has 15 couples. Male and female cheerleaders stay together through the fall but change for basketball season.
Most male cheerleaders have some gymnastic or cheering experience. They tend to be very protective of the women.
"They're more like brothers than anything," Arnhold said.
Part of that protectiveness is because the women can only do the high-flying stunts if the men keep them safe. A mis-timed throw or catch and a cheerleader could fall 15 feet to the floor.
Many people snicker when they see a male cheerleader holding his partner aloft, seemingly staring up her skirt. Actually, they are watching the edges of her hips. If he sees her shoulders or head, it means the balance is off and he needs to shift position.
"If something goes wrong, it's up to the guy to fix it because they provide all the balance," she said. "We just remain stiff as a board."
There's no prohibition on dating players or other cheerleaders, but Arnhold said the rule is that personal relationships don't affect the squad. There are no public displays of affection while in uniform.
At KU, cheerleaders aren't under the athletic or the activities umbrellas, so there are no real scholarships. Lawrence Athletic Club provides full memberships for just $15 a year.
Their main fund-raiser is poster sales. Money raised goes to expenses associated with nationals.
"You keep all game nights free because if you aren't cheering, you're selling posters," Arnhold said.
Posters are $5 each. Anyone who wants a poster but can't get to a KU basketball game can place an order for one through Ken and Teri Arnhold.
Nationals, which usually are televised, brings cheerleaders from all levels to Daytona Beach, Fla.
Teams only get one day to truly relax. All their other time is spent preparing for competition, Arnhold said.
Public appearances in Lawrence aren't common but cheerleaders often are called for on-campus festivities. If the chancellor has a brunch, for example, a few cheerleaders will show up with a few band members to lead a verse or two of the fight song.
Cheerleading won't lead to a professional career. Pro sport cheer squads hire dancers, not cheerleaders. It takes a great deal of time, and a person can get hurt.
Why do it?
"It's fun," Arnhold said. "People ooh and ahh, you get to support the players and the games, and you kind of get recognized on campus."
Posters are $5 each. Anyone who wants a poster but can't get to a KU basketball game can place an order for one through Ken and Teri Arnhold.
Nationals, which usually are televised, brings cheerleaders from all levels to Daytona Beach, Fla.
Teams only get one day to truly relax. All their other time is spent preparing for competition, Arnhold said.
Public appearances in Lawrence aren't common but cheerleaders often are called for on-campus festivities. If the chancellor has a brunch, for example, a few cheerleaders will show up with a few band members to lead a verse or two of the fight song.
Cheerleading won't lead to a professional career. Pro sport cheer squads hire dancers, not cheerleaders. It takes a great deal of time, and a person can get hurt.
Why do it?
"It's fun," Arnhold said. "People ooh and ahh, you get to support the players and the games, and you kind of get recognized on campus."
See ARNHOLD, Page 14
