The role is satirized in popular movies like Easy A and Fired Up as well as in SNL skits featuring Will Ferrell. One victory of the feminist revolution is the gender integration of school sports. Not only can a girl join the Varsity Football Team, but a guy can join the Varsity Cheer Squad. After one football season as the Hermes High School mascot, Philip was invited to officially join the school’s Cheer Squad so the school could fully integrate Nestor Hawk into the Cheer program.
Two years ago, we would never have possibly guessed Philip would want to join the Cheer Squad. It still seems so unlike him. Normally, he is private and cautious. This seems particularly not-private and not-cautious. But somehow, it has managed to both appeal to him and work for him. Standing over six feet tall but weighing less than one hundred thirty pounds, Philip is unfit for the football team. But the dance moves and gymnastics associated with the Cheer Squad make him uniquely suited as a guy who can add his talents to the group.
So how does a guy join the Cheer Squad and navigate the potential minefield? Not everyone qualifies and not everyone has the aptitude. But maybe it is all summed up in the attitude which is a mix of professionalism and the kind of disinterest only a teenager can effectively manifest. This attitude was perhaps best summed up when Philip told me he was not interested in an event at Charlotte’s house. “Dad, there’s going to be mostly girls and hardly any guys at Charlotte’s house. I’m kinda capped out on time with girls.” As I’ve observed him with the Cheer Squad, Philip always appears quite focused on the task at hand. And although there are plenty of hugs with the cheerleaders before and after game time, Philip never initiates a hug.
The program began in the summer and included a week at Cheer Camp. When he went off to Cheer Camp, he was the one guy on a bus with thirty-six girls. On Facebook he was teased about being in a position that would make many guys envious but he chose to neither delete nor reply to the comment. At the hotel, the girls grouped themselves four to a room, while Philip had a room all himself. Philip spent most of his days in a separate training program with mascots. While the mascot program was coed, it was still mostly girls. It was important to him to focus on the training before he focused on the social activities.
At the same time, it has also important for Philip to bond enough to become part of the team. There was a dress-up banquet one night at Cheer Camp so we made sure Philip had a sharp-looking semi-formal jacket to wear. While the girls were all in high heels and short formal dresses, Philip balanced his jacket with an untucked button-up shirt and jeans. He was just formal enough but he didn’t look like some girl had picked out his clothes either. Philip regularly wears his cheer T-shirt and hoodie, and beneath his Hawk feet, he wears the same dance shoes his girl-peers wear.
We’ve enjoyed watching Philip work his Nestor Hawk magic at sports events and rallies. Small children all want to go up and hug the Hawk and be lifted in the air. A hug line forms quickly between cheer routines, especially at home games. Occasionally, he joins the Cheerleaders for a half-time dance routine which is always a thrill. The Cheer season will continue into the basketball season during which Philip and the Cheerleaders will support both the Boys and Girls basketball teans. We look forward to more interesting performances and to seeing Philip’s role as Nestor Hawk evolve.
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