Former players turn into cheerleaders

Amber Waterman/Sun Journal

Former Winthrop Ramblers' football starters Skyler Whaley, right, and Chad Morang transformed themselves into the "Winthrop Rowdies" to cheer on their team Saturday in Dixfield.

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- Amber Waterman/Sun Journal

What do you get when you add a $9 Wal-Mart plaid mini skirt with fake wigs and green-and-white body paint?

The "Winthrop Rowdies."

Former starters and 2009 graduates for the Winthrop Ramblers' football team Skyler Whaley, 19, and Chad Morang, 18, returned to the field Saturday afternoon, but not as players.

As cheerleaders of sorts.

"This is Braveheart," Whaley said. "Braveheart never gave up, and Winthrop will never give up!"

The duo yelled encouragement from the sidelines the entire semifinal game against the Dirigo Cougars in Dixfield.

And they never gave up despite being cold.

"I'm absolutely freezing," said Whaley. "I think I'm going to get frostbite and the swine flu, but it was worth it!"

"Yep," said Morang. "I can't feel my toes."

They plan on making this a lasting tradition for the Ramblers, and they were hoping to be able to cheer their team on in the state finals in two weeks.

However, the Ramblers fell in a disappointing loss to the Cougars.

But that won't stop the two from following their dreams and coming back for more games as the "Winthrop Rowdies."

"I think we pulled it off pretty well. We even tried these on at Wal-Mart. It was like 11 o'clock at night, and we asked a girl there what she thought," Whaley said. "She said we look better in a skirt than she did!"