Cassie Cox
Cody Banks, a 2009 North Decatur graduate, has been selected as a member of the 2009-2010 Indiana University Cheerleading program.
As a member of the Varsity “Cream” Co-Ed squad, he and his squad members will be cheering on the Hoosiers in football, volleyball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball. They have two out of six football games left. Tonight is their first performance for basketball. This year’s co-ed squad has 14 men and nine women. This is the first time they qualify to go to Nationals in Orlando, Florida. They have been taping themselves to submit for a chance to compete.
Banks first became interested at a young age when his babysitter’s daughter would teach him gymnastics.
“He was in baseball for a few years, but would be doing cartwheels when he wasn’t hitting the ball. I knew gymnastics was something he wanted to do so I signed him up,” Charity Banks, his mother, said.
Banks cheered three years varsity for the North Decatur Chargers from 8th to 10th grade. His favorite memory is winning sectional and going to regionals when he was in 8th grade. Banks also competed six years with the Hoosier Rebel All Stars, a squad at Greensburg Gymnastics and More, from 7th to 12th grade.
“I have always enjoyed cheerleading and I enjoy watching sports since I’m not the best at them. I thought cheerleading would be the best way to enjoy the game,” Banks states why he chose cheerleading.
The difficulty for making the Cream squad varies from year to year. Banks is one of seven freshmen to make the squad. There are four men and three women freshmen. His favorite part so far has been cheering at football games.
“It is very fun cheering in front of 50,000 people,” Banks added.
He is studying chemistry at Indiana University and spends alot of time studying. When he can find time, he enjoys hanging out with his friends, having dinner with them and watching movies. He is really enjoying college and thinks it is great.
Banks is the son of Doug and Charity Banks.
