Fifteen navy and white cheerleaders stood on the track last year, and cheered at every football game during the 2012-2013 football season. Their flashy pom-poms and classic oversized bows are nothing new to the crowd’s eyes, but there is a new addition this past year to the FMHS Varsity cheer squad. There were more than just a set of loud, spirited cheer girls on the track. They were joined by two loud and spirited cheer boys. And they plan on cheering their way through the 2013-2014 season.
Flower Mound High school has only had two other male cheerleaders besides our current guys, Peter Mungiguerra and Ian Bode, since the school opened in 1998. According to Texas State Historical Association, baseball and football are the two most popular sports for males to play.
“People have said things to me before about it, but I don’t let it get to me,” junior Ian Bode said, “I love cheer, and we shouldn’t be hated on for that.”
On July 6^th, 2012, cheerleading was officially recognized as the toughest high school sport to play by the AACCA, and nationwide cheer competitions are often aired on ESPN. Why should it be odd for a guy to do cheer instead of playing football and baseball?
“Personally, I think people overreact about male cheerleaders,” Peter Mungiguerra said.
Most of the girls are used to co-ed cheer squads, so adding boys last year wasn’t much of a change. The girls were enthused for the boys to be returning yet another year.
“I love being on a team with the boys. It’s something different, but I think the school needs it,” freshman Breckan Kimmel said.
Mungiguerra and Bode both agreed that all the cheerleaders welcomed them onto the team like old friends.
Considering the team hasn’t had boys on FMHS Varsity cheer for two consecutive years in a row, this is history for the Jaguars.
“I’m so happy that I can show my school spirit by being a part of the cheer team,” Bode said, “This was a great way to become involved with school activities. “
Doing what you love may mean standing outside of a crowd, and looking different than everyone else. But in this case Peter Mungigurrea and Ian Bode have shown us that there’s nothing wrong with being different.