Solution found in cheerleader controversy

Deirdre Newman

NEWPORT BEACH -- The end to an unusual controversy over pompoms at

Newport Harbor High School came Tuesday when Principal Michael Vossen

announced the 17 girls who didn’t make the original teams will have to

try out again.

The late afternoon announcement upheld an independent committee’s

recommendation to let the original judging decision stand and hold an

extra tryout to fill two more spots on both the varsity and junior

varsity teams. Vossen did not announce when the new tryouts will be held.

The cheer controversy ended as it began with cheerleaders and parents

divided between those who wanted all the girls to be made cheerleaders

and those who wanted only the ones selected originally to earn the

privilege.

“I think he made the right decision,” said Dana Odell, whose daughter

Katie made the first cut. “I think it went too far. Some parents got too

upset, and some girls expected too much.”

But some of the cheerleaders who didn’t make it the first time

insisted they had been wronged.

“It’s not fair,” a tearful Katie Stephens said.

Stephens’ mom, Kim, said she would consider filing a complaint against

the decision after digesting the news.

Assistant Supt. Jaime Castellanos said the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District will deal with lawsuits if they arise and will work toward

making the cheerleading judging process “crystal clear” to prevent

fiascoes such as this in the future.

After the announcement, Castellanos also defended Vossen, who has been

widely criticized by some of the cheerleaders and their parents for

wavering back and forth.

“I think [he] did everything possible,” Castellanos said. “It’s easy

for people on the outside to criticize” his decisions.

Castellanos also said there are some philosophical differences between

school administrators, cheer coach Lisa Callahan and the cheerleading

advisor, Jennifer Cilderman, which need to be worked out.

As the 17 girls who didn’t make it the first time reacted to the news

with tears and hugs, some questioned whether they will want to weather

another emotional experience and audition again.

“I’ve already not made it once,” Jessica Cochens said. “And after all

this, I don’t know if I want to deal with this again.”

The controversy began in late November when the cheerleading rosters

were posted and Callahan told administrators that she had witnessed

irregularities in the judging that distorted the final results.

The administrators and Callahan agreed that the best resolution would

be to let all 48 girls who tried out be on the junior varsity and varsity

squads. Vossen sent out a letter with his seal of approval for the

decision.

But Mike Johnston, the parent of a cheerleader who made the original

cut, and a handful of other parents complained to the district that the

decision violated the rules in the cheerleading handbook that state all

judging decisions are final. An independent committee was set up to

investigate. Practices were suspended and friendships among cheerleaders

and parents ruptured as the controversy raged on.

The committee eventually determined that the judges acted fairly,

Castellanos said.

When Vossen announced the ad hoc committee’s recommendation on Dec.

21, there was such an emotional backlash from the parents of girls who

didn’t make it the first time that he allegedly agreed to let all the

cheerleaders vote and circulate a petition. Many of them wanted to keep

all 48 girls on the two teams.

But on Dec. 28, he sent out a letter to the contrary, saying he would

only accept the cheerleaders’ opinions.

After listening to them Monday, Vossen decided to go with the

committee’s recommendation.

Johnston, the most outspoken in allowing only the original

cheerleaders on the team, said he thought Vossen’s decision was the only

fair resolution.

“It’s a tempest in a teapot, but rules should be followed,” Johnston

said.

Despite the split opinions on Vossen’s decision, what everyone on both

sides could agree on is the shock at seeing the controversy balloon into

a hullabaloo that cast a negative glare on the school.

“This is absurd,” said Judy Richonne, whose daughter Hillary made the

original junior varsity squad.

Johnston’s daughter, Jacky, who made the varsity squad, said she was

relieved the ordeal was over and expressed optimism about the

cheerleaders’ ability to put this nightmare behind them and move on.

“I don’t think it will take more than a week,” Jacky said.

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .