Heidi Deininger was a cheerleader for the Rainbows from 1981-83.
Photo by Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin

But Heidi Deininger sat nearby - and a full house with a wild crowd was dancing in her head.

The 32-year-old Deininger is the new University of Hawaii cheerleading coach.

Here is her main G-O-A-L for the six-man, six-woman Rainbow squad:

"We need to be very visual at our games supporting our teams and we need to be visual in the community," said the Oahu native, a Maryknoll High School graduate. "And we need to offer a quality program here."

She said the 12 cheerleaders are on full scholarship, with most of the women coming from Hawaii while the men tend to come from the mainland.

Most have gymnastics backgrounds, but strength and old-

fashioned hustle are also important assets.

"They have to be strong and they have to have good aerobic endurance," she said. "Plus, you want to recruit kids who have a lot of heart."

Deininger played basketball and volleyball at Maryknoll, and was a UH cheerleader from 1981-83 before graduating with a double major in exercise physiology and communications in 1987.

She has an impressive background in the local fitness industry as a former director for the YMCA and International Fitness Centers. Currently, she runs her own fitness company - Pacific Fitness - and conducts workshops on how to teach aerobics.

Before applying for and getting the UH job, Deininger was the Sports Services Coordinator for Hawaii Pacific University, which included the cheerleaders, dance team, band and pep club.

Her new job has a lot of varied responsibilities.

"I want to work with the community and do some fund-raising as well," she said. "It helps to know your market because there are a lot of people out there who want cheerleaders for special events all year round.

"That can be a major source of funding for us, along with clinics and a camp we have."

Deininger said the perception of cheerleading has come a long way, although there are some lingering stereotypes.

"It's changed and it hasn't changed," she said. "A lot of people out there still don't know that there are male cheerleaders.

"But a lot of the teams out there that are coed are a lot more visual because ESPN covers a national cheerleading competition - and people realize that they do a lot more than in the past."

With more advanced routines there is also a concern for injury.

"Fitness is really, really important, especially with the things they're doing now," she said. "And strength is a very important factor now, too, which includes weight training.

"There are also safety guidelines that we follow."

But there is still a lot of attraction to being a cheerleader, she said.

"It's exciting being at so many big events," she said. "Plus, you get to meet a lot of people and make a lot of friends."

How did Deininger get started as a cheerleader?

"By accident," she said with a smile. "I was always involved in sports at Maryknoll, but it looked like fun so I thought I would give it a try."

"I got into it as a sophomore and just stayed with it."

What advice would she give to an aspiring boy or girl who wants to get into cheerleading?

"The way things are now you need to get into a gymnastics program," she said. "You need to stay overall fit and have a lot of heart for what you do, the way you support your team.

"You also have to go to a lot of events and learn how to manage your time wisely."

Speaking of time, how does a married mother of a 5-year-old son find enough hours in the day for the myriad responsibilities?

"Being a mom and being a coach are both real time-consuming," she said with a laugh.

"But I manage."