Chearleaders ask, why only five credits? 

For most seasonal sports, athletes receive 5 P.E. credits. For football, they receive 10 because they are a part of a summer weight training class.

However, cheerleaders receive 5 credits even though they begin in summer and work throughout two of the three sports seasons..

Senior Alexus Raquel who has been cheering for three years, said that cheerleaders are getting less than what they deserve.

“It’s not fair for the students who need credits and cannot have a P.E. class in their regular schedule,” Raquel said. “If people need it (the credits), why not give it to them?”
This has been a question, according to athletic director Tony Espinoza, that has been asked for years. 

Cheerleaders try out in March, practice all summer and go to cheer camp, and then cheer through two full sports seasons.

So some wonder why they do not receive the 10 credits for both basketball and football season.

Years back, cheerleaders did not get any P.E. credits. Instead, they received extra curricular credits.

That is, until cheerleading coach Corene Lugo stepped in and made it possible for cheerleaders to get the correct kind of credits.

“I know I am to turn in credits at the end of the year,” Lugo said. “But it’s how much they (cheerleaders) receive that has been an issue for a long time.”

According to Chan Sam, head counselor, the explanation is quite simple.

“If the coach identifies a student to get a certain amount of credits, they may receive them,” he said. “But students may not exceed the 10 credit limit per school year for P.E. credits.”

Similarly, a student-athlete, who has a P.E. class, cannot earn double credits.

If students were to receive credits for every P.E. related course, then some students could eliminate their requirement freshman year if they are enrolled in a P.E. class and also are on a sports team.

“If the students earn the credits by committing to the time and effort, then they can receive the credits,” Sam said. “Other schools are doing that, too, and we want to be make sure we do the same.”

Lugo is now interested in getting cheerleaders 10 credits, as long as they are not also enrolled in a P.E. class. She is hoping to send the information to be approved by Sam and Espinoza.

“It’s not a guarantee that every cheerleader submitted will receive the 10 credits,” Lugo said. “But it is definitely something that we can work with.”