Rebekah Sturgiss keeps Penguin spirit alive and loud

By JON MOFFETT

jmoffett@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

With tears streaming from her big, brown eyes, Rebekah Sturgiss raised her pompoms for the final time as a cheerleader for Youngstown State University.

And as her peers, friends and family gathered around to wish her congratulations and luck in the future, Sturgiss waved goodbye to a crowd at the Beeghly Center, and to a career that began nearly 20 years ago.

A 22-year-old senior and physical therapy major, Sturgiss talked about how at the age of three, she would don cheerleading outfits and watch her older brothers play.

“When I was younger, my mom would make uniforms for me while my brothers were playing, and I just loved it,” she said with her trademark infectious smile.

But while cheerleaders are known for their aerial acrobatics, cracking that smile may be one of the more difficult tricks Sturgiss is asked to perform on game day.

Sturgiss’ father, Tim, was diagnosed with Multiple myeloma — a cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow — in 2007.

She said her father has his good days and bad days, but it has been a difficult process for her family.

“It’s sometimes hard,” she said as she dabbed at her tears.

“Sometimes you feel like you have to put on a mask. But then when you actually get into the moment, you don’t feel that anymore. It’s just a part of you.”

How she even manages to attend games, let alone lead the charge for positive energy, is baffling to some. But for Sturgiss, the pyramids and rehearsed chants provide an escape.

“Sometimes people don’t quite understand, especially when the game [isn’t in our favor]” she said.

“People will ask me how I even go out there and show support for my team. And then you have your personal life you’re dealing with. But when you’re out there in the moment, it’s the only thing you’re thinking about, how you can make the people around you happy.”

The elder Sturgiss was present for many of the home games this season, his daughter said.

But it is difficult for him to sit through the contests. Sturgiss said too little movement can force her father’s joints to stiffen and ache.

“He’s doing fairly well,” she said. “He’s up and moving and he looks great, but he said he feels like a rotten banana on the inside. And that’s the trouble with his cancer is that it fatigues you and tires you out.”

The only daughter in the Sturgiss family, along with two brothers, Rebekah cannot help but be overtaken by emotions when talking about her family.

“My family, my father, mother, grandparents, my brothers and their wives, is absolutely everything to me,” she said. “And your family will always be there for you.”

A Lowellville High graduate and captain of the cheerleading squad, Sturgiss’ passion for her family greatly outweighs that of her sport.

But she still has a special place for cheerleading in her heart.

“I think sometimes it’s hard to explain unless you actually do it,” she said.

“But just seeing the smiles on people’s faces, whether we’re serious or we’re joking around, and to get people to laugh is an incredible feeling. And to support your team is one of the biggest things.”

The YSU faithful haven’t had much to cheer about this winter.

With both basketball programs struggling, Sturgiss said it’s even more important for her squad to make sure the energy level is at its peak.

And when everything is working in sync, Sturgiss said the rush is indescribable.

“It’s just unbelievable,” she said.

With her left ankle heavily taped, Sturgiss took her place as a base — one of the cheerleaders who support the flyers, who perform the aerial tricks — on the campus’ Dom Rosselli Court during the final home basketball games of the season this past weekend.

The injury, she said, is minor to some she’s sustained in her career.

But broken bones and bumps are no match for Sturgiss, who has never suffered from a bruised spirit.