By SHARON MOORE

Staff Writer

Seven new members were chosen April 25 to join the university cheerleading squad. Some of them have wanted to become cheerleaders since they were small.

For incoming Shreveporter freshman Lauren Barkley, cheering was just something she always wanted to do.

"I went to games and saw the cheerleaders down there on the field, but I never thought I'd make it and be down there," Barkley said.

Other new cheerleaders are Annie Hanna, a freshman transfer student from Baton Rouge, La.; Heather Fife, a freshman political science major; Candace Traylor, an incoming freshman from Haynesville, La.; Amanda Call, an incoming freshman from Shreveport, La.; Matt Jester, an incoming freshman from Bossier City, La.; and Jake Hughes, an incoming freshman from Shreveport, La.

Though Hanna has been cheering for seven years, she originally came to Tech to try out for the Pom Pon Girls.

"I was just there and decided it would be fun to try," Hanna said. "It was really an impulse decision."

In addition to the seven new members, the squad has 20 returning members.

Returning cheerleaders are captain Melissa Pierrelee, a senior family and child studies major; captain Tori Soto, a freshman interior design major; Jennifer Adams, a sophomore biology major; and Chasity Albritton, a sophomore basic and career studies major.

Also returning are Carley Burrow, a senior psychology major; Misty Cheek, a junior speech language and hearing therapy major; Kristi Henderson, a junior medical technology major; Jessica Moore, a freshman business major; and Kristen Versaw, a senior biology major.

Additional returning cheerleaders are Chris Eastin, a sophomore management and marketing major; Kenny Eastin, a sophomore pre-business major; Steven Ehrhard, a senior health and physical education major; Kyle Falting, a junior math education major; and Jack Guillaume, a sophomore pre-business major.

Other returning cheerleaders are Stephen Martinez, a senior fitness and wellness major; Daniel McCollogh, a junior biology major; Ben Miller, a sophomore business management and entrepreneurship major; Marco Nelor, a junior studio art major; Justin Swanson, a senior finance major; and Travis Winston, a sophomore business marketing major.

Soto said that there is not a designated varsity or junior varsity squad as of yet, because the spirit coordinator resigned, and no one has been hired to fill the position at this time. Soto said the judges chose about 27 people.

"When a new spirit coordinator is hired, then everyone will re-try out for [junior varsity] or varsity," Soto said.

Soto said instead of going to camp this year the cheerleaders will stay on campus and have instructors come to them.

"It's to save money so we can go to Hawaii with the team."