Ashlyn Register is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Centennial High School  by AZPreps365

Nathaniel Brown joined Centennial’s Spiritline after a friend approached him in the hallway saying he looked like a “back-spot.” A few months later, he tried out for the team and fell in love with it.

“It is the friends and the people you meet and the experiences you make,” Brown said. “It is fun walking and storming the halls you see all these people who look excited.”

Brown’s presence on the Spiritline not only challenges the so-called stereotype, but it brought different aspects to the team.

“It breaks it up a little bit. It is not just having girls which is really nice,” Hadyn Gardner said. “I like that there is more to our team than just girls. It allows us to be diverse and able to do a little more.”

Brown and Jadyn Akers are two of three male Spiritline members at Centennial this season. It is not the first time the Coyotes have had males on their team. Last season was a hit with eight males and an all-male stunt group.

The stereotype around male is not prominent at Centennial.

“I feel like bringing a male presence to Spiritline changes the stereotype,” Akers said.

“Sometimes,” said Brown. “A lot of people do not take you seriously, or they think there is a big stereotype around and it is not always true.”

The program at Centennial is echoing a larger change in the landscape of competitive cheer. 

“It really helps them set up for college with so many co-ed teams now, so the boys are definitely getting a huge advantage for that,” coach Carlos Gonzales said.

Two of the three coaches are also male.

“It adds more to the guys side of it, and it is not just all girls. They bring a lot to our team which is super cool,” Gardner said.

The male coaches are focused on erasing any lingering stereotypes.

“I do not treat them any differently, if anything I treat my females as I treat my males and vice versa,” Gonzales said. “We have always believed in a very difficult discipline approach.”

Brown and Akers challenge other men to try-out for the team.

“Don’t be afraid just come out here and do it, once you get used to it you will actually feel stronger. You will bond with the other people on the team. I feel like this is amazing way to connect with other people,” Akers said.