A CHEERLEADER HALL OF FAMER

If there is a Cheerleader Hall of Fame, then Kristi Yamaoka of SIU should be among that number. If you've heard her story, then it bears repeating and if you haven't, then read on.

With 3:25 left in SIU's win over Bradley in Sunday's MVC finals, Kristi fell from 15 feet performing a stunt with the SIU cheerleaders. She was strappeed to the board they use when neck and/or back injuries are suspected. Naturally, this takes some time as the emergency techs and parameds don't want to risk further injury by any movements.

But when the Saluki band played SIU's fight song, "Go Southern Go," Kristi could bear it no more. The sophomore from Springfield, Illinois, started moving her arms in perfect time to the music. "I could do the fight song as long as my arms were functioning." What a sight! And what a relief to those in attendance or watching on ESPN.

"I didn't want the team to get distracted. I needed them to win for me," she stated. They did. But our hearts went out to you. What a trooper!!