As many people have heard through social media, the SBHS cheer tryout results have been overturned by the interim superintendent, Teresa Servellon. The varsity selection was disregarded despite the scores. As a result of this decision, the JV squad will be completely eliminated and all candidates that tried out will be GIVEN a spot on the varsity squad despite their scores and performance. 

Almost all or all Varsity sports and activities are supported by JV and freshman teams of the same activity. This is an important process for the growth and safety of students and student athletes as they work to EARN a spot on Varsity. This is no different when it comes to cheer. Cheer is a highly skilled sport that often requires dangerous stunts. That is why the top scoring cheer candidates are chosen for varsity. It is unfair to take that recognition away from students and student athletes who legitimately earned their spot on varsity. 

The decision was made by the interim superintendent, Teresa Servellon and administrators to strip the girls who legitimately earned a spot on the SBHS varsity cheer squad of their achievement, eliminate the JV all together and make every candidate, aside from freshmen, a Varsity cheerleader. They are telling the 28 candidates that made Varsity that their hard work doesn’t matter!! Where is the Greyhound pride? They have taken the honor and pride away from being a San Benito High School varsity cheerleader. 

A precedent has been set. Your child’s sport or activity could be next. Will the district now go back and review the tryout for the Belles and allow everyone who did not make the squad to have a spot on the dance team now? Will the softball program have to allow girls on to the varsity squad because a parent doesn’t want their daughter to play on JV? Same for football, marching band and all other varsity level activities. How is it any different for cheer?

I implore the interim superintendent, Teresa Servellon, high school administrators and the board to explore options to keep the JV squad, expand it and uphold the integrity of the try out process and varsity activities and participants all together. Please do not invalidate their accomplishments.

Please support San Benito High School varsity cheer. By doing this, you are supporting the integrity of all San Benito High School varsity activities.