SI.com Features FIU Golden Dazzlers Michelle and Alexandra

Sports Illustrated (SI.com) has featured twins Michelle and Alexandra from the FIU Golden Dazzlers as the "Cheerleaders of the Week." SI.com features the twins in 33 photos this week. For the full photo gallery Click Here

SI.com Features FIU Golden Dazzler Vanessa

Sports Illustrated (SI.com) has featured Vanessa from Florida International as the "Cheerleader of the Week." SI.com features Vanessa and several members of the FIU Golden Dazzlers in 35 photos this week. For the full photo gallery Click Here

FIU Cuts Cheerleading, Golden Dazzlers To Stay

By Jorge Valens / Asst. News Director
FIU Student Media
Additional Miami Herald Article

Cheerleading program: Few alternatives to survive


The FIU cheerleading program has been eliminated as part of Athletics’ $1 million budget cut for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

“This economy has forced us to make some very tough choices,” said Athletics Director Pete Garcia in a written statement to Student Media. “The decision to discontinue our cheerleading program was one of them."

The decision to eliminate the program comes after the University’s move to cut all funding to the Golden Panther Band. Athletics is currently reaching out to local high school marching bands to perform at football games.

According to Richard Kelch, director of media relations for Athletics, the department would save $45,000 annually by eliminating the program.

However, head cheerleading coach Maria George told Student Media that the budget for the cheerleading program is in fact $25,000.

George said she offered Athletics to coach the program for free and without an operating budget, but Athletics declined the offer.

Kelch said the department would still need money to run the program, even without George’s salary and operating budget, and that Athletics would be open to keep the cheerleading team if they were able to secure a recurring sponsor.

“The key word is recurring,” Kelch said. “We don’t want to find ourselves in the same position next year.”

The Golden Dazzlers, the University's competitive dance team, will continue to be funded and will fill the void left by the cheerleading team during games.

The Golden Dazzlers have 18 members and perform at all basketball and football games as well as events such as Midnight Madness and Freshman Convocation.

Their style, however, is more focused on hip hop and jazz dance routines rather than traditional cheering routines.

George said she thinks that Athletics wanted to go in a different direction.

“Athletics is trying to move toward a more professional cheerleader, which is a dance-type program such as the [Miami] Heat,” she said.

Athletics would not comment on why the Dazzlers were chosen over the cheerleading program.

George said she now must contact students who have committed to FIU specifically to be a part of the program.

“A lot of my student-athletes, they chose FIU because of our cheerleading,” George said. “I’ve got kids all around the country coming in to cheer here, that I’m making calls right now to tell them we don’t have a program.”

“I was so proud to say that I was an FIU cheerleader,” said cheerleader Sasha Velasco, a newcomer to the team. “I was looking forward to progressing [in the program] and being on a team that would push me to my limits and now they just pulled that right from under me.”

The cheerleading team has been the recipient of much success, most notably placing fourth in the Small Coed I-A division for the 2009 NCA/NDA Collegiate National Championships in April.

“We go to Daytona, Florida for college nationals every year, which is like the Rose Bowl of our sport,” George said. “They’re cutting a program that produces award-winning cheerleaders.”

The team is currently exploring alternative options to raise funds.

“We’re looking into other avenues to see if we can perhaps get enough support throughout the FIU community and the community in South Florida to help us stay as an organized sport,” George said.

The cheerleading team is currently seeking corporate sponsorships and has organized various fund-raising events on and off campus.

On June 24, the team set up in the Graham Center Pit to collect donations and create awareness about their situation.

They also partnered with the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity the following day for a fundraising party.

Lastly, on June 26, the cheerleaders organized a car wash.

Fliers have been posted in various spots throughout the Graham Center, informing students the different ways they can help and a schedule of their fund-raising events.

Student government has become aware of the cut and is discussing options with Athletics.

“We are looking at all alternatives in helping maintain the cheerleading program,” said Student Government Council at Modesto Maidique Campus President Anthony Rionda. “We understand the position the Athletic Department is in in cutting their budget but [we] are working our best to help this program continue.”

The cheerleaders, both veterans of the program and newcomers, are responding to the cuts with surprise and disappointment.

“I’m still in shock,” said co-captain Jenny Mesa. “We weren’t prepared for it.”

According to veteran cheerleader Erika Otero, however, this is just a minor setback.

“We really are title hungry,” she said. “This is going to be a stepping stone but we’ll get there.”

The final option for the team is to limit the amount of competitions they attend and become a student club, which receives funding from the Council for Student Organizations.

Golden Dazzlers Growing At The Speed Of Light

By Gianluca Messina
FIUsports.com

Last fall, the FIU football team improved dramatically but not too far behind, another team made a flashy emergence and has caught the eyes of not only the university, but also the rest of the Miami community.

Enter the Golden Dazzlers.

With a grueling practice schedule that consists of two four-hour practices a week (a third one is added in the months preceding their annual competition) as well as a two-mile run at the conclusion of each workout, these young women have made a pledge to strive for perfection.

“Honestly, it’s something that you have to commit yourself to; it’s a part-time job,” co-captain Jennifer Puentes said. “You work really hard and you want to see it pay off.”

The Golden Dazzlers training regimens may be challenging but it is all geared toward a specific purpose.

“What they bring is another entertainment value to the games and that’s what the program is supposed to be about,” said coach Brenda Popritkin.

And the entertainment value that FIU enthusiasts are graced with when they attend most athletic events is what has prompted popularity that has increased progressively over time.

After the release of their highly-anticipated swimsuit calendar in December, which also included the FIU Cheerleading squad, the Golden Dazzlers are becoming familiar even outside the state of Florida.

“We’ve been selling the calendars online and I would say that more than half of the online sales have been from New York fans,” Popritkin said with a laugh.

While the team’s primarily responsibility is to perform at Golden Panther athletic events, they have also made guest appearances at many outside functions such as Zo’s Summer Groove, the Harley Davidson Kids Holiday Show and the Latin Grammys.

Besides being in high demand for appearances, the team is also rigorously preparing for their annual national competition in April that will pose a new challenge because they will be moving up to a new division.

Despite the popularity gained and the expectations of the team, these young women enjoy striving to improve what has become their passion.

“I’m obsessed,” said captain Vanessa Marrero. “I know [the team] feels the same way because if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be here right now.”

“It’s amazing; I love it and its makes me really excited to see what’s going to happen next year,” said co-captain Lisa Sakowitz.

For Popritkin, the evolution of the team that she helped to form several years ago has been an upward incline.

With the year that the Dazzlers have had, it will be tough to match but then again, Popritkin’s previous predictions have been off.

“Every single year they get better because the bar gets set higher. I look at the squad [each year] and say ‘there’s no way we could going to get a better group’ and then it just happens,” Popritkin said.

The popularity that the Golden Dazzlers now possess is a testament to the effort of both Popritkin and the 19 young women who want to fulfill their purpose to the best of their abilities. Thus far, the trials and tribulations have paid off and it will only get better for the group who is constantly finding new areas of recognition.