By Oscar Montealegre
On-line Forty-Niner

A Cal State Long Beach athletic team recently won a national championship, however the team that accomplished this grand achievement does not rank high in popularity at CSULB, the victorious 49ers were the Long Beach State Cheer Team.
 
The LBSU Cheer Team won three national titles over the weekend at the United Spirit Association Collegiate Cheer and Dance Nationals that was hosted in Las Vegas. The achievements consisted of first place in all-girl cheer, first place in co-ed cheer, and the grand championship award, which the all-girls cheer team accomplished.
 
Previously the team had came in second place at the 2002 USA College Nationals and placed fourth at the United Cheer Association College Nationals in 2002 as well.
 
“Winning this tournament is very huge. It is the biggest reward you can win in cheerleading. I don’t think people are aware how important it is to win the national title,” Casey Lum said, a sophomore fashion merchandise and fashion design major.
 
The cheer team participates in division competition, and they were able to defeat 11 other top university cheer teams in the weekend tournament. The team owned its division by five percentage points, which is an indication how competitive and talented the LBSU Cheer Team has become.
 
More impressive than the level of talent the cheer team has attained in just two short years is the way the cheer team is formed. Coach Eric Anderson does not have scouts or recruiters to scour the nation for the best athletes. All members of the cheer team must be current or incoming CSULB students and must try out for the team, which makes the titles that much more astonishing.
 
“We made some history this year. We are the first all-girls team at CSULB to win a national title,” Shannon Stotz said, captain of the LBSU Cheer Team.
 
The cheer team operates under the supervision of the Beach Pride Center. Also, the cheer team is jointed with Associated Students Inc. For the past two years the LBSU Cheer Team has joined the dance team and the spirit band under the supervision of the Beach Pride Center and Activities Director Raul Alcala. Due to the Beach Pride Referendum the transition has been smooth and the athletic department no longer has control, but the programs are still starved for attention on campus.
 
“I hope we get more publicity and recognition in the future. Also, we hope to get more people active and involved in CSULB sports,” Krysten Becker said, a sophomore journalism major. “The women’s basketball team is having their best season in years but unfortunately nobody knows or goes to the game.”
 
The cheer team consists of both females and males that make up the all-girls squad and the co-ed team. The co-ed team performs and cheers at every home basketball and volleyball game.
 
“This team is very close and united. We all love each other,” Lum said.
 
The cheer team coach Eric Anderson, who has been the coach for the last two years is also an advisor of the new Chinese Cheerleading Federation. Yet, he attributes the hard work of the team members in achieving such success in a short period of time at CSULB.
 
“It was tough winning the championship, but the team did it. They were really solid in the competition,” coach Anderson, who has no plans to be contempt with the recent achievements, said. “In the future, we just want to take it to the next level. Be better and get some more titles.”
 
The cheer team came back Tuesday from the national tournament and they began practicing again yesterday. It is apparent that the cheer team is dedicated to its work and is striving to get better despite of its recent accolades.
 
“We all work so hard all year. But the hard work is all worth it when you realize you won the national championship, it is such an awesome feeling. Unexplainable,” Stotz said.  

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