If you can't wait for football season, you are not alone. The games, the excitement, the cheering for your favorite teams. If your job is to cheer on the team, then you are especially excited. Just ask 18-year-old Lily Lowry who recently found out she made the LSU cheerleading squad. The Lafayette native and ESA graduate was chosen along with 21 others, after a three day tryout with 70 other hopefuls.
Lowry's accomplishment is no small feat, considering she came from a small, private school, where cheerleading wasn't a major program.
Lowry was the only freshman from Acadiana to be chosen for the squad.
We sat down with the young gymnast to find out what it really takes to make it to the big time in cheerleading and learn more about the sport.
TDA: So, what was the tryout process like? What kind of moves did you have to do?
Lowry: Well, for stunts, the first thing they made us do what a back tuck. That's a standing back flip. If you touched the ground at all you were out.
TDA: Is there a height or weight requirement?
Lowry: The average girl is between 4'11 and 5'3 and weighs between 95 and 125 pounds. But is it not a requirement.
TDA: So what happens if you are taller than that? Do you automatically get eliminated?
Lowry: No. There are some girls who are taller. One of the senior girls is around 5'5. But the taller you are, the harder it is to get the balance you need for stunting.
TDA: What were tryouts like?
Lowry. It was three days. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday it was from 8a.m. to 9p.m. It was 13 hours where they watched you do your routines or moves and there were like eight or more judges. You could see them looking at your papers and talking about you. After each day, there were cuts.
TDA: That must have been nerve wracking.
Lowry: Yes. One time I forgot to update my mom and when I got out, I had like 50 text messages from everyone wanting to know what happened. At the end, they had 21 girls and they just said, this is the team. We were so excited. And relieved.
TDA: What is your favorite stunt?
Lowry: I do a back handspring and the guy catches you and throws you up and you land on his hands.
TDA: Yikes. Are you ever afraid you will get dropped?
Lowry: No. The guys are really good. It's so much fun.
TDA: What is your favorite song to cheer to?
Lowry: Hey Baby. It's a really old one. It goes 'Heeeey, Hey Baby, I wanna know, would you be my girl?'
TDA: Oh yeah. It is old.
TDA: So I assume there are several different cheer outfits for different weather and stuff? What is your favorite one?
Lowry: My favorite if the purple crop top with the purple shirt and LSU in gold. I'm really excited to wear it.
TDA: What is your biggest fear about being an LSU cheerleader?
Lowry: Running out of energy during the game.
TDA: I don't think that will happen. Any advice for girls who want to do what you do one day?
Lowry: Take lots of tumbling. Get some coed stunt experience. Practive your motions. And, get some outside gymnastics experience, like private lessons. And, join a competitive cheer group. If you have the technique and you can do everything, nothing is stopping you. And give them a really big smile.
8 things you didn't know about LSU cheer-leading.
1. The squad is made up of 44 members, 22 women and 22 men.
2. It is a year round sport. The squad cheers for all LSU sports including football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, sand volleyball , even gymnastics.
3. Cheerleading is almost seven days a week. Members practice five days a week then cheer on Saturdays and sometimes Sundays.
4. When the squad members are not cheering, they are doing promotions which include visits to children's hospitals and charity events.
5. The try outs for cheerleader include an interview so the judges can get to know your personality. If you are not someone who can get along with others, or a team player, it won't matter how talented you are.
6. Once you make the squad, you are not allowed to dye your hair. If you are a blonde you must stay a blonde. If your are a brunette, you must remain a brunette.
7. You are not allowed to post any picture of yourself in a bar while wearing LSU Cheerleading clothing. You are not allowed to be around any alcohol while wearing your uniform.
8. Most everyone will know who you are. You cannot be rude while wearing anything that identifies you as an LSU cheerleader.
5 Common stunt terms used in cheer-leading
1. Back tuck – Standing back flip
2. Extension – Male cheerleader holds his partner up in the air on his hands
3. Lib – Cheerleader stands on one leg while being balanced on her partner's hands
4. Cupie – The male cheerleader throws his partner up in the air and catches her on one hand.
5. Basket Toss – 4 male cheerleaders throw one girl as high as they can and catcher her in their arms in a layout position.
