By Sandra Diaz

Fellow team members look on as student Josh Kepke practices his tumbling. (Freedom Moreno)

By Sandra Diaz

Ready? Okay!

There is a new cheerleading program at Riverside City College as part of the Physical Education and Athletics department.

Rachelle Fawcett, the program’s director, is looking for both men and women to join the Riverside campus’s new spirit team, which is also a jazz and hip-hop style dance team.

This isn’t the first time RCC has tried to start a cheerleading program.

In 2003, Mark Haines, an assistant professor for the Dance Performing Arts department, attempted to start up an older style cheerleading squad with more focus on cheering at games than participating in competitions.

The demand for a new cheering program at RCC has grown over the past few years.

Fawcett stated that students were calling in asking about getting involved in a cheerleading program that at the time did not exists.

The squad is already scheduled to cheer for the entire football season as well some men and women basketball games.

Fawcett is also planning on having the team participate in community events as a way to gain sponsors.

As for cheering competitions, Fawcett says that they will wait until next year. She wants the team to focus on routines and promoting games for the time being.

Fawcett is currently teaching a cheer preparatory class under the Community Education program in the Huntley Gymnasium, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9:30 p.m. The class serves as a way for potential cheerleaders to gain experience in routines, stunts and tumbling to prepare for upcoming tryouts on May 7.

She is still accepting students into her class, which ends May 31.

Fawcett is also director for CHEERZ All-Star Cheerleading in Norco as part of leisure enrichment classes for kids ages five to seventeen.

Tryouts will take place on May 7 in the Wheelock Gymnasium at 5 p.m.