American Cheerleader Magazine

April COM: Brianna Reilly

April 2010 Cheerleader of the Month: Brianna Reilly Our April 2010 Cheerleader of the Month, Brianna Reilly, is a pint-sized powerhouse. We couldn’t be happier to have her gracing our cover and think you’ll be inspired by her story. After 12 years of cheer and a big win at UCA College Nationals in 2009, this Southern Connecticut State University cheerleader found herself dealing with a cheer crisis before the 2009-2010 season: Should she continue to cheer, or hang up her poms for good? After some serious soul-searching and a few weeks off from the ...

Tryout Trauma

Check out these readers’ most embarrassing tryout moments. American Cheerleader March/April 2009 We’ve all had our fair share of horrifically embarrassing moments, and sometimes we wish we could just forget they ever happened. Lucky for us, these readers were more than happy to dish on their most cringe-worthy tryout memories! “At my school you’re supposed to spirit/rally out to the middle of the floor at tryouts. I’m a pretty clumsy person and when I came out to perform, I tripped over my own foot and fell. I got up and smiled like nothing had happened, ...

Time Out With: Legacy

Real Name: Jonathan L. Perez Best Known For: Performing on “So You Think You Can Dance” and for roles in B-Girl and Step Up 3D; Being a B-Boy who adapts well to other styles, with an edge for performance. Home Town: Miami, FL AC: What was it like being on season six of “So You Think You Can Dance?” Legacy: It was a fantasy turned reality and a privilege to have the notoriety and be able to share with millions of people what I love to do—perform. [caption id="" align="alignright" ...

Pop Quiz

What kind of loser are you? Even though it’s not about winning or losing, but rather how you play the game, there’s still something to be said about how you win and lose. Having good sportsmanship is one of the most important parts of being an athlete. When you lose, do you do it with dignity, or are you a sore loser? Take our quiz to make sure you’re being a good sport (and be honest)! If your squad doesn’t place well at a competition, and someone walks over and tells you what a good job you did anyway, you… a) Give ...

Prom Beauty Queen

Be the belle of the ball with tips from DuWop founder Cristina Bartolucci. Want to be in the beauty know? Then it’s a good thing you’re here! Cristina Bartolucci, founder and creative director of DuWop Cosmetics, took some time out of her busy (and very glamorous, obviously) schedule to share her beauty know-how with AC. No doubt you’ve already seen her tips for gorgeous staying power at prom in our April issue, so check out our exclusive interview below for even more expert advice on your big night! (And don’t forget to enter our DuWop contest at the bottom.) AC: What’s your number one ...

Spring into Fashion!

After a long winter full of dark colors and knit outerwear, this years spring fashion is like a breath of fresh air. The weather’s not the only thing getting hotter, with soft florals, bold prints and updated outerwear popping up everywhere this season FRUIT AND FLORAL Flowers aren’t just found in gardens, this spring try using this natural print to enhance a few key pieces. For a classic feminine look, try mixing floral cardigans with skinny jeans and boots. Use soft textures like satin, chiffon, lace (nude colored lace is big this year), silk and organza paired with harder pieces like black leggings ...

We are Family!

Fighting with a sibling can bring chaos to your household. Fighting with a teammate can break the unity of a squad. When the two are combined, this can spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E for you and your team. AC's here to help! With these guidelines and a few tips from real-life cheer siblings, you’ll learn how to leave the family feud at home and use the close bond you share to your advantage on the competition mat. 1. Leave the drama at the door. It’s not smart to bring outside issues in to practice—including the little fights that start at home. When you’re with your ...

Time Out With: Sasha Cohen

Name: Sasha Cohen Best Known For: Two-time silver medalist and U.S. figure skating champion On the Horizon: An alternate for the 2010 Winter Olympics, kicking off February 12, and performing with Smucker’s Stars on Ice beginning on April 1. Hometown: Laguna Niguel, CA AC: What’s it like being one of the elite athletes to attend the Olympics? Sasha: It’s such an amazing experience, just the whole world stopping and watching and paying attention to all of the athletes from all over the world. There’s a wonderful energy and excitement about it. There are really no words to describe that feeling. AC: You took the silver in the 2006 ...

The Secret Language of Judges

Making sense of the scribbles on your score sheet. by Michelle Richard Another competition has ended and the moment of truth has arrived. Your team huddles together and is all ears as your coach spills the verdict of your two-and-a-half-minute performance. While certain comments from the judges’ score sheets make total sense and even urge you to nudge your teammate in an “I told-you-so” sort of way, other remarks leave you confused and not knowing where your team went wrong. To give you a better understanding of just what judges mean when they scrawl down things such as “increase team ratio,” here’s a ...

10 Tips for Time Management

How to juggle school, friends and being an all-star! By: Stephanie Lebron The life of an all-star cheerleader is anything but easy. Between practices, homework, school activities and competitions, it’s easy to feel pulled in a lot of different directions. But with good time-management skills and a little organization, you can decrease your stress and handle things like a true all-star. Here are 10 tips to help you do it all. 1. Clear out your clutter. An organized room is the first step to an organized life. Whether it’s your bedroom, desk, locker or binder, set aside a few minutes each day to ...