The New York State Cheerleading Championship is being held at RIT in Rochester on March 5th. RIT is mandating that all athletes/visitors be vaccinated to attend or compete.

My team has qualified for States, which should be the hard part. Instead, the hard part is now. Now we have to fight for their right to participate at States and compete together as a whole team.

These girls have been cheering together and competing in-person all year. They are not required to be vaccinated to go to school, to cheer, or to compete at any other competition. Now, when all their hard work has paid off and they have a chance at a State title, I am supposed to leave my unvaccinated athletes behind and go without them.

We are taught and trained as coaches to be inclusive and promote teamwork. This event’s restrictions are promoting the exact opposite and creating division.

This is NOT political. This is NOT about a belief in vaccines. Vaccination was not required to compete all year, so it should not be required for the final and most important event. It is WRONG to teach KIDS to ditch their teammates who worked side by side to qualify. Our vaccinated and unvaccinated athletes agree on this.

It is also about holding higher powers accountable. Football was granted an exception to play at a venue that required visitors to be vaccinated. The Wrestling venue just dropped all restrictions and mandates for their state championship. Boys basketball are allowed to test negative to compete. Treat all NYS High School Sports Championships THE SAME! Give Cheer the same opportunities.

There are many options that could rectify the situation. Anything is better than the position that we Coaches, Parents, and Athletes are currently in.

1. Give Cheer an exception (like Football was granted)
2. Let the unvaccinated test negative to compete (like basketball)
3. Drop the unfair restrictions & mandates (like wrestling)
4. Eliminate spectators and allow all athletes to attend
5. Let us compete virtually

If you think it is wrong to leave unvaccinated KIDS behind, please speak out in hopes of RIT and nysphsaa changing this policy now.

- Coach Amber Rector, Clarence HS Varsity Cheer