Bring it on: Former Carson cheerleader ready for college

RENO - Throughout her high school career, Lisa Beck would cheer in front of no more than 2,000 fans at a Carson High football game.

When Beck runs through the tunnel at the University of Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon she'll be greeted by 80,000 fans. That's enough to make anybody's knees wobbly.

"I'm very excited," said Beck, who departs Friday morning for what will be her first game as a member of the University of Nevada cheerleading team.

"The only thing I know about Notre Dame is that one of my cousins went there. She said she went to a couple of football games and they were very big events.

"It (big crowd) gets me pumped up a bit. I did cheer at San Diego State's stadium before, so I've been in that situation before."

Another reason for Beck's excitement is that it's her first-ever college football game. She is the only freshman on Nevada's pom-pon roster this season and that's no small feat. More than 50 women tried out for this year's squad.

Beck will tumble, dance and do cheers at men's and women's basketball, football and some volleyball games in addition to making personal appearances representing the school.

"She's an awesome tumbler," said Kim Anastassatos, Nevada's spirit coach. "Her tumbling sticks out. She's one of the best. She's pretty tall for being a good a gymnast as she is.

"When you get to the Division I level, you have to be good in every aspect - dancing, tumbling and cheering. What we're looking for is an all-around good cheerleader. Lisa has great intensity. It's a big deal to make a team like this as a freshman."

Anastassatos said the last time she had a cheerleader from Carson High was four or five years ago.

Beck tried out for the team on the last weekend of spring break last year. It was a two-day tryout with new candidates as well as members of the 2008 squad.

"It was really nerve racking," Beck said. "From what I'd heard from the girls who tried out last year is that there were only 2-3 spots open. There was actually five spots open.

"We had to learn two sideline dances the first day, and then perform them. We had to learn two cheers, too, and then we jumped and tumbled. The second day we had to learn another dance which was a little harder to learn."

Beck felt that she had acquitted herself well, but it was tough to wait around for the final decision.

"They posted a list of people who made it and then she (Anastassatos) called us into the gym where we got to meet each other," Beck said. "I was very excited. I really went in hoping I would make the team, but I knew there was a possibility that I wouldn't make it.

"Their assistant coach from last year told me to keep up my hard work. She talked about landings on my jumps and said I was good to go."

Beck and the rest of her new teammates have been practicing two days a week since Aug. 11 and they go through a kick-boxing workout three times a week to keep in shape. During the course of the season they will learn 15 different routines and 20 cheers.

"She just needs to 'college up,'" Anastassatos said. "You have to have a little more maturity because you are going through so many different changes; all the responsibility and time management, and going to classes."

Beck was a gymnast for 10 years, and was a four-year cheerleader at Carson High. She also cheered one year in the Carson City Pop Warner program.

Cheerleading has become a big part of her life, even outside of the university. She works for the United Spirit Association where She and Jon Tisdale from Las Vegas are the only two Nevada residents in the group. The USA group travels around and works with junior high, high school and college-age cheer groups.

"I've been with the high school the most," Beck said. "I relate well because I just got out. They listen really well. It's been pretty easy so far."