In order for true cheering pandemonium to be reached, it takes leaders who are oozing with enthusiasm and energy. Over the past few years, the Binghamton University Cheer Team and the school’s lovable mascot, Baxter the Bearcat, have proved to be the perfect leaders of the decibel-shattering crowds that have packed into the Events Center in support of the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

The Cheer Team is one of the five groups that comprise the Spirit Squad and is arguably the one that energizes the crowd the most with its acrobatic routines before tip-off and during timeouts. The members of the Cheer Team will be the first ones to admit, however, that they can only give off such exuberant levels of positive energy because of the response they receive from the crowd.

‘We rely on them [the crowd and BU Zoo] a lot,’ says head coach Maura Kisloski. ‘Something is definitely missing when they’re not there.’

The squad, which consists of 18 students this year, is also well aware of all the absurd stereotypes and misconceptions that traditionally surround cheerleaders.

‘Ugh, there are so many,’ laments junior captain Laura Wenzel.

The biggest misconception this team seems to face is the incorrect assumption that cheerleaders are not athletes.

‘I challenge anybody who says cheerleaders are not athletes to come and practice,’ says a very serious Maura Kisloski. ‘I’ll give them one night, and if they come back after that, I would be impressed.’

The veteran coach issues this challenge because it does not take long to see that the team’s practices and routines are physically draining, and what cheerleaders do out on the floor is the epitome of what it means to be an athlete.

Agility is on display with the dizzying flips and cartwheels the squad incorporates into its routines. Pure strength is on display when they build human pyramids that see the ‘flyer’ on top ascend as high as 20 feet in the air. The exciting dance numbers they incorporate into their routines test their stamina to the limit. Being a cheerleader is challenging, demanding and exhausting work, but you would never know it from just watching the BU Cheer Team ‘ something its coach takes pride in.

‘They are true athletes because they make it look easy when it is in no way easy,’ Kisloski says.

Movies like ‘Bring It On’ would lead you to also believe that cheerleaders are inherently mean and take great pride in emotionally dismantling teammates they don’t like. That may be true on some cheer squads, but not the one here at BU.

‘We’re all really good friends with each other,’ says senior captain Maureen MacPherson. ‘School just wouldn’t have been the same experience without joining the Cheer Team.’

The Cheer Team is also home to the University’s greatest symbol of spirit and fandom, Baxter the Bearcat. While we may never know what the hell a bearcat is, Baxter reminds us at each and every home game that the fictitious animal loves BU sports passionately.

‘Baxter is a much loved character and a crowd leader,’ Kisloski says of the mascot.

Much like their cheerleading teammates, the students who portray Baxter are profoundly dedicated and work hard at perfecting their craft.

‘You got to love what you’re doing, it’s not easy,’ says the coach about portraying the mascot. ‘I put [the costume] on and myself. I could never do it because within minutes I was claustrophobic. It takes dedicated people to be Baxter.’

The Cheer Team and Baxter can next be seen entertaining the Events Center crowd when the men’s team hosts Central Connecticut State at 7 p.m. tonight.