Associated Students Inc. officials have responded to a recent scandal and identified the non-student competitor that led to the Long Beach State Cheer Team’s forfeiture of a national title.
The co-ed cheer team forfeited its National Cheerleaders Association Small Co-ed Division I title after competing in Daytona Beach on April 9-10. Coach Eric Anderson’s contract was also terminated due to his knowledge of the non-student’s participation.
The issue brought attention from local news channels like ABC and CBS, as well as the Associated Press and media across the country.
The Beach Pride Center, which encompasses the LBSU cheer team, dance team, band and mascot, has a budget of about $240,000 annually, according to the ASI 2010-11 budget.
According to Dave Edwards, associate executive director of ASI and the director of the University Student Union, the non-student team member who competed at the Daytona Beach competition was Craig Wilder.
Edwards said Wilder had graduated in December, but had been a very dedicated and strong cheerleader for LBSU. Edwards also said that he doesn’t think Wilder was trying to break any rules.
“There are a lot of stories that are making it seem like we brought in one of the Laker girls, but really, this was one of us who graduated and just wanted to keep playing,” Edwards said. “To our knowledge, Craig was the only ineligible member of the team.”
Attempts were made to contact Wilder this weekend with no success.
Bill Boggs of the National Cheerleaders Association said he first heard about the issue from Edwards after the Daytona Beach tournament. Boggs also said he has not yet heard from Coach Eric Anderson.
“Unfortunately, [Anderson will] most likely continue to coach other teams with little to no repercussions for his actions,” said Kristy Berg, a former cheerleader who was coached by Anderson as a team member of Cheer Empire All Stars in 2000. “It’s a shame because those who competed will never get their pride back once being stripped of their title.”
Berg said she had a negative experience with Anderson 10 years ago when her team took third place at a United Spirit Association nationals competition. According to Berg, Anderson asked the team to turn in their uniforms and stopped contact with the team members after the competition.
Not everyone agrees.
“I think Eric is the most inspiring coach I have ever had,” said Justin Stoll, who was on Cheer Empire All Stars for two years. “He pushes you to be better and rise to your full potential and is a great spirit as well. He is like another father to everyone on the team. He cares so much about his athletes and makes sure we are taken care of and helps in any way.”
Edwards said Anderson acknowledged there was a graduate student competing and that Anderson felt bad.
According to Edwards, videos of the competition were posted the weekend after the team won its title. Edwards said Sylvana Cicero, University Student Union assistant director of programs and marketing and direct overseer of the spirit programs, saw the videos and recognized that one of the students was no longer eligible.
“We did the right thing by going to the NCA and saying we violated the rules,” Edwards said.
According to Boggs, of the 250 teams competing this year, CSULB was the only team who had an illegitimate team member. After CSULB forfeited, the title went to Steven F. Austin State University, Boggs said.
A similar situation happened a couple of years ago with another team, Boggs said.
“We will continue to monitor the eligibility of our team members prior to any competition,” said Richard Haller, ASI’s executive director. “It should be noted that this non-student was not on the roster we submitted to the National Cheer Association. We believe this to be an isolated incident that we were fortunate enough to catch. I am confident that by forfeiting the championship and replacing the coach, we have taken the necessary steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Haller said he is not aware of any other non-student on the team or in competitions.
According to the website for Skillz Camps, another place where Anderson coaches, Anderson has been coaching for 26 years, has competed as a nationally ranked gymnast and won the 2000 Golden State Spirit Association’s California Coach of the Year award.
“I think any time you lose a successful coach, there is going to be a challenge for the program,” Edwards said. “We have had a lot of interest from coaches around the nation to come here and replace the cheer coach.”
According to Christina Esparza, ASI communications coordinator, they are hoping to hire a new coach before the season starts. Tryouts are scheduled to occur as planned on May 6 and 7 with the help of the former assistant coach, Esparza said.
A few cheer team members have been contacted, but they have all declined to comment.
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