Dear Editor,
Two similar anonymous items appeared in the Aug. 30 edition of this publication’s Readers’ Column. The submissions were on the subject of cheerleading at Owego Free Academy (OFA). Both were full of errors. This letter to the editor presents just the facts.
In one anonymous claim it was alleged that for several years now the girls have managed to scrounge up a team, with volunteer coaches, and were forced to wear old, outdated uniforms.
In fact, new cheerleading uniforms were purchased two years ago at Owego Free Academy as part of the regular athletics uniform replacement plan. Also, OFA has had a paid cheerleading coach for many years, for both the fall and winter seasons. Last year, the district paid the winter cheer coach for the competitive cheer season and used the fall as a pre-season for the team, with a volunteer coach.
One anonymous comment stated that it’s “a disgrace and embarrassment that they (district officials, presumably) don’t feel girls’ sports activities such as cheerleading, which could help them out in college, are important. It doesn’t seem like they really care.”
In fact, last year New York State, for the first time, made cheerleading an official varsity sport, and made its official season in the winter. Many districts, including Owego Apalachin, followed the state’s winter competitive season as a guide, making the fall a pre-season leading to the competitive season.
Last fall and winter, despite extensive efforts by coaches and the athletics department, OFA was unable to put a full cheer squad together, with only a few girls participating at football games in the fall, and averaging only about four or five cheerleaders at basketball games in the winter. OFA was forced to withdraw from the STAC cheer competition last winter due to lack of participation.
Each year, the athletics department assesses whether we have sufficient interest among student-athletes to field teams at various levels in various sports. For example, last spring the district was unable to field a modified boys’ tennis team. Interest came from too few players. And this fall OFA was close to not fielding a girls’ junior varsity soccer team for the same reason. A last-minute surge in numbers allowed the team to continue.
Andy Buchsbaum, OFA director of athletics, has ongoing discussions with leaders of area youth programs, including cheerleading, in an effort to assess trends, and in the case of cheerleading, to attempt to re-build the program at the high school level in the future.
Another anonymous claim asked readers to “Take a look around! Every high school has cheerleaders with nice uniforms, who represent their schools proudly, and who are appreciated.”
In fact, other schools in OFA’s league have dropped or reduced their cheer squads due to lack of participation. One school has dropped football and basketball cheerleading but will still have a winter competitive team, while other districts have dropped the sport entirely, or are considering that move.
One more anonymous claim in the Readers’ Column suggested, “Our school district in Owego doesn’t feel that the girls and their sports activities are as important as the boys.”
Last fall alone, OFA offered six girls’ varsity sports (seven, including cheerleading), compared with four for the boys. Every one of those girls’ teams successfully advanced to the post-season, and two of the six teams won sectional championships.
“It may be the case that the numerous offerings and resounding success of our other girls’ varsity sports is directly related to the waning numbers interested in cheerleading,” Buchsbaum said.
Another point of pride at OFA, announced last spring, is the accolade coming from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, citing OFA as the only school from Section 4 to be named a 2014-15 Scholar Athlete School of Distinction. OFA received School of Distinction status by having 100 percent of its varsity teams – both girls and boys – earn a 90.0 percent grade point average or higher.
To be clear, OFA has not cut its cheerleading team.
“Unfortunately, the interest in cheerleading at OFA is not sufficient to field a team at this time,” Buchsbaum said. “As it does with all sports, the district will review interest in cheerleading annually.
The district’s motto over the past few years (22 Sports, one Team) shows a deep commitment to all our student-athletes, in competition, as well as in the classroom.
Sincerely,
Stephen Jensen
Public Information Coordinator
Owego Apalachin Schools
