ROCKWALL, Texas — Saniya Demars was excited when she got the letter. The honor student and cheerleader had been accepted into a scholarship program at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches.
Saniya says she received approval to take part in Rockwall High School’s National Signing Day event where 18 other student-athletes would be celebrated for the college commitments they had agreed to sign.
She and her parents invited family and friends and readied the purple and white balloons that would decorate her signing table. But a week in advance, they received different news.
"It was really just shocking and I just felt like I was not in my body. It felt unreal,” Saniya said.
“It’s baffling. There are no words for it. It’s embarrassing,” said her mom Alicia Demars.
Because they say someone complained, and then the athletic director agreed, that cheerleaders are not athletes under the purview of the athletic department. They are part of the Fine Arts Department at Rockwall High School. Therefore, only athletes are allowed to take part in the athletic signing event.
Saniya says her invite was rescinded on Feb. 1 for the Feb. 7 event.
“Cheer is not a sport and doesn’t fall under athletics,” Alicia Demars said of the call they received. “Which we disagree with!"
Instead, Saniya and her family say they were offered a spot in a different part of the school, at a lone table, 45 minutes after the other students had their signing event in the school gym.
“You know in the back of your mind all my peers are in the gym where I should be, where I thought I was going to be,” Saniya said.
“Your heart sinks,” her mom added. “And you’re like what do I do. This is embarrassing. I don’t even know what to say.”
Rockwall ISD responded to WFAA with a written statement, suggesting they’d never had a cheerleader accepted to a college scholarship program so early before. They sent the following written statement to RHS varsity cheer parents.
“We are proud of our award-winning cheer programs and cheerleaders. As a response to our cheer program’s growing success, our high schools are planning a signing event for all cheerleaders in May, after colleges and universities have tryouts. Likewise, our campus athletic departments coordinate a signing event on National Signing Day for students to sign college commitments. Moving forward, our campuses will review our current practice to celebrate our students. As a fast-growth district, we continue to see our students excel in more and more activities and are committed to finding ways to celebrate them.”
“I really hope that people like can evolve with the sport and decide maybe these are real athletes,” Saniya said.
Because Stephen F. Austin considers her an athlete. It says so in Saniya's college acceptance letter, welcoming her into the school’s academic and athletic programs.
“After a review of your skills, work ethic, and character, you have been recognized as an athlete who has the potential to be a vital piece to the future of our program,” the acceptance letter reads, offering her a spot in the SFA Cheer program for the 2024-2025 season.
So, Saniya and her parents hope Rockwall ISD will eventually see that too.
“I hope that other people can see that this isn’t OK. I don’t want to be treated like this. And I don’t want my future seniors to be treated like that when they decide if they want to commit to going to a college and pursuing their higher cheer abilities somewhere else," Saniya said.
A result that perhaps might be Saniya’s biggest athletic feat of all.