Cheerleaders’ Coach Accused of Extortion

A University of Nevada, Reno, cheerleader has filed an extortion complaint against the squad’s coach over a $500 fine levied against her for competing in an event without the coach’s blessing.

Nicole Archie, a senior journalism student, filed the complaint last week with UNR police against Coach Heather Soper-Wilson, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

Archie and a male cheerleader were fined $500 apiece for competing in the National Cheerleading Assn. championships in Daytona, Fla., in April.

Archie claimed that Soper-Wilson initially suggested that both students give her $700 to arrange for the trip. When the students balked, the coach barred them from going, she said.

When they returned, Archie said, she was told that if she did not pay the fine she would be booted from the team and unable to register for classes, making her planned August graduation impossible.

She said she later paid the fine under duress.

UNR officials said the fines were improper and they plan to reimburse the students in full.

They also are investigating Archie’s allegations that Soper-Wilson made a practice of fining cheerleaders as punishment, a violation of university policy.

Archie said $50 fines were common for such infractions as wearing socks of the wrong color and tardiness at practice. A male cheerleader was once fined for shaving his head, she said.

Paul Page, vice president for university advancement, said administrators have asked Soper-Wilson for accounting records to determine what happened to the fine money.

Soper-Wilson denied any wrongdoing, saying Archie’s money order was made out to the Board of Regents and went back into the cheerleading fund.

“The university is following up on this . . . and I’m sure it will all work out,” the coach said. “These are kids that I love, and I hope that they love me, too.”

UNR police also are investigating the complaint.