Student enjoys cheerleading, teaching gymnastics class

By Jenny Jones
Summer Reporter

In less than 20 minutes, David McCoy ran the stairs of Ross-Ade Stadium, did 60 sit-ups and then a few push-ups.

McCoy, junior in the School of Liberal Arts, is not training to climb Mount Everest, ride a bike across the nation or run a triathlon. He is conditioning for his new position in the Purdue cheerleading squad.

This is not the first time McCoy will be a member of a cheerleading squad. When he was in seventh, eighth and ninth grade and during his freshman year of college, he also took part in cheerleading. Considering that in seventh and eighth grade, he was a man on a cheerleading squad that consisted mostly of women, he often got teased, but McCoy figured that he got to touch girls in places that the other men his age dreamed about.

In addition to his past experience and training, McCoy is also staying fit this summer by instructing gymnastic and cheerleading classes at Dance Moves and Gymnastics.

McCoy began taking classes at the fitness center and when he found out there was a teaching position open he convinced management that he was the right person for the job.

McCoy, who's been instructing classes since January, teaches a gymnastic class, made up of 6, 7 and 8 year-olds, and a cheerleading class, which is made up of high school cheerleaders.

McCoy said his students are fun to work with because they enjoy joking around and having a good time at practice.

Even though McCoy enjoys having fun with his classes, he does not fail to teach his students safety. He explains every step by illustrating how the student's hands should be and by clarifying what the consequences will be if they do not pay attention.

"(McCoy) works well with the kids and he motivates them a lot," said Heather Circle, director of Dance Moves and Gymnastics.

No one in McCoy's classes has been injured while participating; however, during the gymnastic class' parents interaction week, a mom sprained her ankle. She was trying to get her daughter to do a stunt with her by jumping off of a stunt block, but instead she landed on a board, which sprained her ankle.

"I had to make sure I stayed calm," McCoy said.

McCoy managed to get everything under control, and the students continued to do their gymnastics. McCoy said he thinks it's great that the kids know what the consequences may be if they fall, but still participate despite knowing.

The classroom is not the only place McCoy practices safety. He has also had to illustrate these precautions while on the cheerleading squad.

During his freshman year at Elizabeth Town College, McCoy was holding a woman on his shoulders. She fell and he caught her. The only problem was that she bent her elbows— hitting McCoy in the mouth and busting his lip. "But she didn't touch the ground," said McCoy. "That's what mattered."

McCoy will be one of 24 students, 14 of them men, on Purdue's cheerleading squad this coming fall. He will cheer at all of the home football and basketball games and he may get a chance to cheer at an away basketball game as well.

McCoy said he is most looking forward to traveling with the squad, competing in the nationals and taking part in the excitement of the games.