‘Baler cheerleaders support golfers at annual fundraising
tournament; team excited for season that features competitions at
Boardwalk
&
amp; Great America
Hollister – If there’s one sport you figure you’d never see cheerleaders at, it would be golf. With mental focus and pinpoint precision required in each stroke, golfers would certainly be up in arms at first sign of a spirited cheer or on-course routine.
But not at San Juan Oaks Golf Club on Friday.
As golfers prepared to hit their drives and walked the fairways on a gorgeous afternoon, there were the San Benito High cheerleaders, encouraging them at each step of the way. It was, after all, the sixth annual ‘Baler Cheer Golf Tournament – the largest fundraiser of the year for the spirit queens.
“It definitely seems like an oxymoron, cheerleaders and golf,” varsity coach Linda Yetter admitted.
But the combination was a resounding success, with golfers asking for the ‘Balers’ support and the girls gladly obliging.
“This is definitely not a typical cheer environment, but it gets pretty fun because of the golfers,” varsity captain Britni Skardoutos said. “They make it fun. Being out here, (we’re) kind of nervous because we’re not real golf experts, so they ease it up for us.”
With four-day-a-week practices set to begin Monday, the cheerleaders are about to begin their season just like their football and volleyball counterparts, among others. In addition to school rallies and rousing the fans’ support at football and basketball games, the ‘Balers are getting ready for their competitive season, starting at Santa Cruz on Sep. 23.
“I think this year is going to be really good because all the girls on the squad are experienced and we can bring everything together and be a good team,” senior Natali Ramos said.
Added junior Kayla Antoniono: “I’m really looking forward to competing this year because we’re going to be at the Boardwalk and Great America, and hopefully we get to Nationals.”
On the golfing side, the foursome of Tim Harper, Mark Hill, Bob Holmes and Pete Danna won the scramble tournament, carding a 61 on the par-72 course. Ken, John and Jim Vineyard teamed with Bill Caporgno to take second at 63.
Eldore Wood won the longest drive competition and John Vineyard, Gino Petruzzi, Jim Wood and Dave Seanez each won a closest-to-pin competition.
Proceeds from the tournament entry fees and auction are earmarked to assist the ‘Balers with the cost of transportation, hotels and uniforms. “It gets very expensive,” Skardoutos said. A final figure on how much the tournament raised for the cheerleaders was unavailable at press time.
The entire varsity, JV and freshmen squads, totaling 45 cheerleaders, were present as the golfers settled in for the banquet and auction.
JV coach Melissa McGrath said she believed staffing the event was meaningful beyond the camaraderie of the girls and their positive interaction with the golfers.
“In the fundraising aspect, I think it’s good for them,” McGrath said, “because it helps their work ethic. Now, they truly know what the boosters do for them.”
With the football season opening at Aptos in just two weeks, the girls are about to begin a season that includes competitions in Santa Clara, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Sacramento and, they hope, Anaheim – for the state championships.
But on Friday, they were happy to mingle with the golfers in an unfamiliar, but enjoyable venue.
“I don’t golf, but it seems like there’s a lot of time after you hit the ball when you’re walking,” McGrath said, “and that would be an appropriate time for noise. I don’t think the whole experience of golf should be silent.”
Antoniono, a first-year varsity member, said she and the rest of the girls appreciated what the community did for them.
“(The tournament) is a nice way to golf and support an organization that is a really involved at the high school, since we’re cheerleaders,” she said. “It was a working fun day.”
