Competitive cheerleading is not a sport.

Such a ruling was handed down last week by U.S. District Court Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Connecticut.

The ruling stemmed from a suit filed by the Quinnipiac University women’s volleyball players and coaches after the university decided to eliminate volleyball for budgetary reasons and replace it with a competitive cheerleading squad.

The court decided competitive cheerleading cannot be considered a sport for Title IX purposes.

Therefore, it is not a sport.

But why not?

Athletic skills are certainly required to perform the activity and those skills are put to test in actual competition.

Sounds like a sport to me.

The judge noted that improvements in acrobatics and tumbling have recently occurred, including more cohesive rules and a better championship format, but said the NCAA doesn’t recognize competitive cheerleading as a sport or even an emerging one.

Nothing against volleyball here, but the basis of this ruling seems archaic.

Maybe the word “cheerleading” throws some people off. It creates the image of girls on the sidelines at football and basketball games, doing scripted cheers to build fan enthusiasm in the stands.

A worthwhile activity, to be sure, but not a sport.

Competitive cheerleading is a different animal entirely.

These squads must function as a unit, hit a two-minute routine almost perfectly under intense conditions and outperform the competition.

Yes, judges decide the outcome. They do so in gymnastics and figure skating, too, and those are accepted sports.

Butler recently won the first PIAA competitive cheerleading championship, so Pennsylvania recognizes it as a high school sport.

Entertainment plays a factor in this activity, as it does in all sports. While the name of any organized sport is to win, it also aims to entertain the spectators.

Why else do guys slam dunk a basketball? Why do football players work on unique touchdown celebrations or entrances on to the field? Why is there fighting in hockey?

All of those things are part of sports entertainment.

Part of competitive cheerleading is fan appeal. You have to “win over” the crowd just like you have to win over the judges.

It’s all part of the game.

Competitive cheerleading has earned its place in the sporting world. It’s become a year-round activity that requires dedicated training and practice.

Butler is at or near the top almost every year in this sport, not because it’s easy.

The Tornado girls earn that success through hard work, tireless hours, passion and dedication to their craft — and deserve that acknowledgement.

Just like any baseball, football or basketball player.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.