To the Editor:

Cheerleading is a waste of girls’ and boys’ time.  Cheerleaders are either on the sidelines, throwing each other up in the air like rag dolls, or chanting, "Here we go Dutchmen, here we go."  Or in a "cheer gym," tumbling on a mat and throwing each other up in the air.

I was a Guilderland Pop Warner cheerleader when I was in elementary school. So I do have a taste of how it is in the "cheer world." To me, it wasn't that much fun. I always thought it was a waste of my time, and now I am a wrestler and a football player.

There are also people who think that cheerleading should be in the Olympics. I don't think it should and neither does Justin Lesch. He told writers how he felt about cheerleading in Sports Illustrated.  He said, "Some people don't even watch cheerleaders at the games, so why make it a pro sport?"

Even on the website Cheerleading Daily, a writer said, "It shouldn't be in the Olympics because it wouldn't fit in with all the other sports."

Cheerleading is one of the most dangerous sports to come across. More and more girls get hurt because of what they do.

I don't even think that cheerleading should be a sport, but it is.  Cheerleaders do work very hard on their routines and cheers.  They do have a specific gym just for cheerleaders called a cheer gym, but chess is also a "sport" so these days I guess you can try to get anything called a sport.

Cheerleading shouldn't be considered a sport and shouldn't be in the Olympics either. I think cheerleading isn't a sport because you barely do any physical activity. You stand there throwing each other around and cheering on a team.

Maybe they should try gymnastics or dance.  Gymnasts tumble and build a lot of muscle strength and, in dance, well, you dance and also have performances and big compactions.

Or you can do what I do, and get out on the field and have fun.

Hannah Durant

Guilderland