By Rand Fisher, Staff Writer

There is no Evel Knievel, parachuting out of space or motocrossing over school buses, but plenty of dangerous stunts are commonly pulled off by Reynolds High School students. These activities are becoming more fast-paced, complicated and physically demanding, and the result is a rise in the number of injuries.

Surprise: We’re not talking about action-packed sports like football, lacrosse or field hockey, but cheerleading.

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a report in October that explained how dangerous cheerleading has become. At Reynolds, cheerleaders must get a sports physical and go through training at a cheerleading camp from May to the end of June.

“The physical forms are no different from any other sport and the precautions are the same when you get a concussion,” Reynolds cheerleading coach Ashley Witherspoon said. “Cheerleading is very strict already, and is a physically demanding sport.”

The N.C. High School Athletic Association considers cheerleading an activity and not a sport. In its report, the AAP said that if cheerleading were to become a sport its overall safety would increase. The change would mean access to more certified trainers, limits on practice time and more precautions when it comes to injuries.

According to the AAP, stunting is the most dangerous activity that cheerleaders are asked to perform. Stunting is when a cheerleader is hoisted into the air and supported by teammates below. Those who are raised into the air are called flyers. Flyers hold up signs, grasp onto other teammates, or even balance on one leg while six feet or higher in the air.

“If cheerleading becomes a sport, it may wipe out stunting,” Witherspoon said. “Stunting is safe as long as they’re caught.”

When a flyer descends into the arms of cheerleaders below, many injuries can happen if they aren’t caught properly: concussions, black eyes, broken bones.

Sophomore Hannah Hall, a member of the varsity team, has sustained two injuries so far while catching a teammate.

“A flyer fell on my head right before a game and I became dizzy,” Hall said. “I also got an elbow to the face and got a black eye.”

Schools put basic guidelines in place for practicing cheerleading, but the AAP said they can be stricter. The guidelines recommended by the AAP involve restrictions on the height of stunts, what to do if a cheerleader sustains a head injury, and emergency plans. If these guidelines went into effect, Reynolds cheerleading would have to make little to no changes in the program.

“We can’t practice on hard surfaces, so we either use grass or mats,” Hall said. “We also can’t wear jewelry or have our hair down.”