Cheerleading is more than just smiles and bows.

“We practice nine hours a week,” senior David Reimers said. “And we do weights in the mornings.”

“We also have a tumbling class once a week,” junior Katie Lewis said. 

A typical practice consists of running and stretching as a team before extensively practicing for game-day events, including partner-stunting and cheers. Some time is set aside for working on their national competition routine, but the majority of practice is preparation for Shocker games and events.

“Our main purpose is to be a game-day team,” Lewis said. “But we also participate in Nationals.” 

Kansas is currently working on passing a law that will prevent cheerleaders from doing basket-tosses during competition, but Lewis says they’re still allowed to do them outside of games for the time being. 

“They want to get rid of them because they’re dangerous,” she said. 

The team has rules for which stunts they are allowed to perform on the hard floor, and are forbidden to do basket tosses without a mat. There is also a ratio-rule for partner stunting. For instance, if a flyer is doing a stunt on one foot, the base must always have two hands and a back-spot. If the base is doing a stunt with one hand, the flyer must be on two feet for safety.

Reimers and Lewis said cheering in front of a packed crowd at Charles Koch Arena is a huge adrenaline rush, and encourages them to perform every stunt perfectly.

“If a stunt fails, we have to hit it five times before we can leave for the night,” Lewis said. “Then we’ll probably have to run at practice.”

To Reimers and Lewis, cheerleading represents school spirit, and much more. 

“We’re ambassadors for the college,” Reimers said. “We go out to different events and represent Wichita State.” 

Aside from basketball and volleyball games, the cheer team competes every year in a national cheerleading competition and makes appearances around Wichita. 

“Last year we took five out of five at nationals,” Lewis said. “But we’re hoping to change that.” 

Most of the cheerleaders are dedicated to school and cheering, and do not have much time to socialize or even hold a job.

“I don’t hang out with many people outside the team,” Reimers said. “And if you get a job, it has to be flexible and only part-time.” 

Both say the time requirement is the most difficult part, but that the sport has its rewards. 

“People think we wear this uniform to have the label of being a cheerleader,” Lewis said. “We don’t. We are here because we genuinely love doing it.”

Of course, being a student athlete has its perks.

“I’m always in shape,” Lewis said. 

“We’re like a family,” Reimers said. 

“A dysfunctional family,” Lewis said jokingly.