The cheering from the stands engulfs freshman Jacob Gaudreau as he performs for the crowd, showing off his title of the first male cheerleader at Cedar Park in 25 years. Thus, Guadreau follows the path much like others before him, but with distinction amongst his fellow peers.
Prior to becoming a cheerleader, Gaudreau had been doing gymnastics since he was in second grade. Already knowing the necessary tumbling skills to be successful, in eighth grade, Gaudreau quit gymnastics and has been involved in cheerleading since.
“I just wanted to try it out and see how and if it was any different,” Gaudreau said. “It would be different, but I think I just wanted to try something new.”
Originally cheering at Cedar Park Middle School before joining the All Star team at Tumbletech in eighth grade, Gaudreau already had the required experience to make him a member of the JV team in high school.
“I was very excited [to make the JV team],” Gaudreau said. “[Cheering] has definitely given me a much more outgoing personality, because I used to be very introverted, so it’s definitely made me more extroverted towards people.”
Although he has only been cheering for a little over a year, Gaudreau has gained experience faster being on both a competitive cheer team and a high school team. He is involved in both environments on a regular basis.
“The high school cheer program is a lot more cheering on a team,” Gaudreau said. “You’re being uplifted [on the sidelines]. All Star cheer is more showing off skills that you can do with a team and putting it with music and a routine.”
Gaudreau is a good representation of a minority in a female-dominated sport, believing if someone wants to try something, boy or girl, they simply must try; be a part of the small community that prevailed through difficulty.
“Just go for it,” Gaudreau said. “I know it could seem scary at first, [but] seeing how you like it is always like the first step. Just put yourself out there and go forward with it.”
Guadreau practices his coordination and tumbling skills daily. Though it’s different for some to see Gaudreau in cheer uniform, his team keeps him going, according to Gaudreau.
“I feel kind of secluded, being so individualized,” Gaudreau said. “People will always have their comments. Everyone [in the cheer program] is always building each other up.”