Patterson Irrigator | Your Local Paper - PHS cheerleader opens doors, earns top honors

October 12, 2008 Patterson, CA

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PHS cheerleader opens doors, earns top honors

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Written by Marc Aceves \| Patterson Irrigator
Friday, 30 May 2008
Those cheerleading competitions you see on ESPN when there isn’t baseball, hockey, basketball, football or bowling — they’re cheerleading’s lifeblood. More than 200,000 high school and college students attend cheerleading camps each year, and at least 15 percent of them participate in competitions. And the sport is growing. Jackson Competitive cheerleaders compete individually against athletes from other schools, performing high-risk routines under high-pressure circumstances. Many compete solely for the fun and camaraderie of the sport. And then there are the hardcore competitors who go for the gold — and the scholarship. Patterson’s Bethany Jackson is just such an individual. Jackson, a Patterson High senior, was recently named 2008 Cheerleader of the Year by the California Cheer Coaches Conference. And it wasn’t just the judges who took notice of the rising starlet. Hollywood producer and choreographer Tony Gonzalez offered Jackson a part in the latest upcoming installment of the “Bring It On” movie franchise. Gonzalez, who has worked on three previous “Bring It On” films, personally presented Jackson with the opportunity after viewing her performance at a Los Angeles competition. The movie begins filming next month. Jackson’s L.A. title also included photo opportunities in a variety of cheer magazines and a college scholarship of $1,500. Jackson also recently tried out for the Stephen F. Austin State University cheer squad. The university — in Nacogdoches, Texas — boasts a squad with numerous NCAA Division I championships. Big stretch: Patterson's Bethany, seen here performing a difficult move, received a prestigious honor from the California Cheer Coaches Conference. Courtesy photo. Jackson was performing at the World Cheerleading Championships while the school’s official tryouts were taking place, which forced her to instead audition for the team via video. She relied solely on the five-minute video recording to demonstrate that her skills and personality were a true fit for the Austin State team. Jackson’s talent and charisma shined through — even if only in video format — earning her a spot on the prestigious and large coed scholarship team. She was the only new addition to the squad to have auditioned solely on video. Jackson begins practicing with the Austin State cheer team in June, with NCAA camps starting in July. The sport question While the debate continues over whether or not cheerleading should be considered an actual sport, make no mistake about it — individuals like Jackson who vie competitively are athletes in their own rights. Competitive cheerleading is similar to, but is not the same as, the cheerleading you see at the sidelines of a local high school football game. Professional cheerleading teams more closely resemble dance companies. Many, however, fail to distinguish it from the sideline shows of the Oakland Raiderettes or the Dallas Cowgirls, even though athletes like Jackson are rated on how they perform as individuals and on their athletic feats. Some of the routines are filled with extremely dangerous moves. Lifts, tosses and catches are common — the only things standing between a cheerleader tossed 20 feet up in the air and the hard gym floor are her teammates. To reach Marc Aceves at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Set as favorite Bookmark Email This Hits: 231 Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment smaller \| bigger Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.