After facing the substance abuse council Tuesday, Baker University’s spirit squad was approved to compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference competition in February after being put on probation last spring.

The spirit squad was told it was not allowed to compete in any competitions after Baker administrative officials found pictures of underage athletes drinking at nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Cheerleading captains Allyssa King, Brittany Lob and Jeremy Webb along with dance captions Kendra Morrison and Erin Edwards faced the Baker substance abuse council ready to answer tough questions about why they should be allowed to compete at the HAAC competition.

“They asked us that if we weren’t approved to compete if it would hurt our retention rate,” Webb said. “We told them it would hurt because … what a lot of girls come here to do is to compete nationally and intercollegiatly.”

The substance abuse council is composed of administrators involved in the athletic department. Phil Hannon, Mike Grossner, Regan Dodd, Susan Decker, Lynn Bott, Lynsey Payne, Dan Harris, Theresa Yetmar and John Frazier all heard the case presented by the spirit squad.

“We wanted to feel, as a council, this was a teachable lesson,” Harris said. “I think they’ve showed that and understand the importance of the consequences and were able to accept the consequences of what was handed down by the council.”

Although the squads were approved to compete in the HAAC competition, head coach Cathy Ritter said regulations are still being placed on the squad.

“We are still on probation until March,” Ritter said. “This only gives us permission to go the HAAC. When we go to HAAC at Avila (University), we are not allowed to stay all night before or after the event.”

Along with travel rules, the council has also required Coordinator of Women’s Programs Tracy Williams and Counseling Center Director Kelly Bowers to talk to the squad about decisions women make when drinking, Ritter said.

“Tracy is coming to stress how women tend to put themselves in bad situations when they drink,” Ritter said. “Kelly is coming to talk about alcohol abuse and drug abuse. We’re not allowed to compete until they have talked to the squads, and we must have 100 percent attendance.”

Harris said he felt the captains presented themselves professionally to the council and have made some positive changes in their programs.