The Best Mason Athletics Has to Offer

By Broadside Staff Writer Fox Parker

The George Mason University Co-ed Cheerleading Team is the most successful team at this university. This may sound far-fetched, or possibly even absurd, to most people familiar with Mason athletics. Considering the amazing Final Four run of the men’s basketball team in 2006, some would not think Mason’s Cheerleading team has an impressive track record.

However, their résumé boasts top five finishes in the National Championship competition for the last four years, including second place finishes in this year and last year’s competitions. This year the team traveled to the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. for the National Championship and ranked second after nationals.

“The number one ranking came with a lot of expectations. We felt like we had unfinished business, because Hofstra [University] knocked us off last year,” said senior Chris Takacs, a four year veteran and team leader. The squad beat out rival Hofstra this year, but was unable to secure the national championship, coming up short to this year’s winner, the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

The loss marked the end of the competitive part of the cheerleading season; however, their work is not finished.

“After Nationals, [the cheerleading team] is all about basketball,” Takacs said. “We are reminded that the school wants us here to cheer for the basketball team.”

The team will travel to Richmond, Va. next weekend to support the men’s basketball team in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, in their push for an appearance in the NCAA tournament.

As it stands now, the basketball team may have to win the tournament to have a chance for NCAA selection, so they will need all the support they can get from Takacs and the other cheerleaders. Takacs, who has been to every home game by virtue of cheerleading, said, “It has been frustrating to watch the team’s ups and downs, but they definitely have the talent to win the CAA tournament.”

While the co-ed cheerleaders gear up to support the basketball team’s late season run, they have an eye on recruits for next year. The team invites high school students from all around the state to attend practice in order to incite interest in the program and gauge talent. The team also holds clinics to attract recruits to Mason and a handful of the cheerleaders travel to state competitions to tell high school cheerleaders about the outstanding program at Mason.

The team’s head coach, Ryan Smith, is committed to turning the Mason Cheerleading program into one of the best in the nation. He plans to return next year, which is a change from three different coaches the team has had over the last three years.

“Ryan has told me that he plans to stay for five years and wants a program that wins back to back championships,” Takacs said.

As for Takacs’ future, he plans to graduate after the upcoming fall semester, which will allow him to compete in both the fall and the spring semesters. Takacs wants to bring a national championship to Mason.

“It would be the greatest cheerleading accomplishment; if I put in all that time to achieve that ultimate goal, I would have nothing left to do as a cheerleader,” Takacs said.

That does not mean that Chris would be done with
cheerleading. He has expressed interest in becoming an assistant coach after he competes next year and would love the opportunity to one day be the head cheerleading coach at his alma mater.

The Mason cheerleading team will be a national championship favorite again next year, as only one senior is leaving. If Takacs and his teammates can capture that ever illusive championship, they will cement themselves as one of the most successful teams this university has ever had.