As the cheerleaders head out to the field or basketball court this season, spectators will notice a spirited new addition to the Southold High School squad — three boys who’ve signed up to add their skills to the cheerleading squad for the first time.
Chris Buono, Shane Kollen and Gus Rymer have all signed on to join the squad, the first male students in Southold’s history to express interest in cheerleading.
“We were the first boys that wanted to try out,” Buono said.
He and Rymer said they became interested in joining the girls after they did a “glow light” pep rally with the cheerleaders. “It was a lot of fun,” Buono said. “We decided we wanted to continue.”
Rymer said Buono called him and asked if he’d be interested in some back and front flips with the cheerleaders; they decided to sign up.
While the boys say they won’t be carrying pom poms, they say they’ll be able to lend muscle power to help the approximately 20 female cheerleaders with lifts and formations.
“The girls have been supportive,” Buono said. “They like having big, strong guys to lift them up.”
And joining the squad, Buono said, has greater meaning. “It’s making a statement that boy or girl, we can do whatever we want to do. Everyone has been supportive. We’ve had no negative response.”
The boys will wear white track pants and red shirts, Rymer said, although they haven’t received their uniforms yet.
Rymer said he can’t wait for the first basketball game, and to join his new fellow cheerleaders. “Chris and I joined the cheer squad because of our recent participation in our school’s pep rally dance with all the cheerleaders. From those two weeks of hard work perfecting the dance, we were able to feel the sense of family among all these girls and we felt like we fit in. They are excited to finally have some boys on the team this year and I am definitely psyched as well.”
