By JEREMY MEYER Special to the Daily Press
SMC — The wait was finally over on Monday for the Santa Monica College 2006-07 season’s cheerleading squad recruits.
After working for three long days, 16 women and two men made the squad out of the 30 original recruits. Those who made it will be known as “yell leaders.”
The final evaluation for the squad was simple in comparison to the days prior. The auditioners first ran through their normal warm-ups, and then practiced the routines learned earlier in the try-outs one last time before leaving the gym to wait in the hallway. Two recruits were brought in at a time to demonstrate their skills to head coach Susan Corpus, captain Yaracelli Valenzuela and the veteran squad members.
When the recruits entered the gym for their evaluation, Corpus and her veteran team watched as they executed standard cheer techniques required to join the squad. Following that were three cheers used especially for football games: “Go Blue,” “Corsair Offense” and “Defense Holds That Line.”
Last on the evaluation form was the audition dance — the final test for the recruits. If perfected along with the three cheers, one can be guaranteed a spot on the squad.
Corpus and her veteran squad completed their evaluation and decided that, with only 16 recruits remaining, something unprecedented could go forth: They could choose everyone for the new squad and worry about the size of the group later.
The squad is 31 members strong and a co-ed group, with five men.
Due of the size of the squad, Corpus also had to elect a co-captain, veteran team member Lauren “Dawson” Domogala.
“I am extremely honored and beyond excited to hold this position as a leader of the SMC cheer squad,” she said.
It was a good day for Domogala, who also was recognized for having the highest grade point average at the student-athlete banquet on Tuesday.
The new team members were told upon making the squad that they should attend the 6 p.m. men’s volleyball game scheduled for today at SMC. They were asked to wear sweaters, shirts or hats displaying the SMC emblem and to cheer in the stands. Corpus said the event was not a test but an opportunity for the new members to get used to cheering for a crowd.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 8, 2006. Read the original PDF.