Maryland Mother Says 7-Year-Old Daughter Was Cut From Cheer Team Over Natural Hairstyle

The school claims the cheerleader was dismissed due to problematic parent behavior violating conduct codes and not her appearance.

A Black Maryland mother claims her seven-year-old daughter was removed from her cheerleading team over disputes about her natural hair, alleging racial discrimination, while the team states the removal was due to issues with the parent.

The mother, Saraya Woolridge, posted on social media in a now private post that over a competition weekend, her daughter, Ryan, was told by Maryland Twisters coaches that her natural hair needed to be restyled and was not compliant with their standards, according to Newsweek.

Woolridge shared emails allegedly showing the team president telling her Ryan “needs to have her hair in a high pony.” The alleged receipts also showed Ryan being dismissed from the program entirely due to unspecified conflicts with Woolridge.

Woolridge believes Ryan faced discrimination, and her removal stems from coaches having issues with Woolridge herself. The Maryland Twisters disputed this account, stating Ryan was never dismissed over appearance concerns but rather due to problematic parent behavior violating conduct codes. They allegedly launched a diversity committee to ensure inclusion and claimed Woolridge’s social media posts about the hair dispute were “premeditated” to get out of paying fees.

Woolridge denied this motivation to Newsweek, the outlet noted. The team allegedly confirmed parting ways with the coach involved but said they received threats over the incident and will adjust hair recommendations, allowing any stylistic choices not affecting performance. An email to families stated coaches will no longer independently critique the appearance of athletes.

Woolridge aims to support her daughter amid worries that she will feel inferior over the dispute.

The team allegedly maintains it has a diverse customer base and wants to build inclusion while dismissing Woolridge’s claims as unjustified.

The incident reflects ongoing debates about discrimination in youth sports and standards unfairly targeting Black athletes’ natural hair. A Pew Research Center study revealed broader concerns about racism in America, with surveys showing most Black Americans feel racism remains a major issue.