Police in London, Ont., rained on the homecoming festivities of The Western University’s cheerleading squad Saturday afternoon, issuing head cheerleader Max Gow a $140 ticket.

The squad was headed to TD Stadium for the Mustangs game against the Queen’s Golden Gaels when they paused to spread some spirit, which was unfortunately met with more than cheers. Their coach of 33 years, David-Lee Tracey, told The Star that three male cheerleaders were throwing a female teammate into the air on Broughdale Ave. — a street lined with purple-clad Western students — when police interrupted to write Gow the $140 ticket.

Having cancelled the actual Western homecoming parade three years ago, the cheerleading squad continues the tradition of walking up known student streets before the big game, spreading spirit, Tracey said.

The four members began cheering in a parking lane, out of the way of any potential passing cars, Tracey explained. “Everyone knows Broughdale Ave., it’s like a little dead end.”

An outraged Tracey described the incident as “absolute insanity.”

The explanation written on the ticket said: “Causing a nuisance in the street by conducting a cheerleading performance.”

“Since when is it against the law to yell your school name?” Tracey said. “This is the single dumbest act” he said he has witnessed as coach.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” Tracey said. “ ‘Go ’Stangs Go, Go ’Stangs Go,’ is now a public offence.”

After “going wild on Twitter” Tracey said the team has received “mountains of support.”

The team plans to challenge the ticket, although Tracey hopes it can be done in a timely manner.

“Right now, we are just trying to find enough adult support, someone with higher authority,” he said.

London Police have been cracking down during their Project L.E.A.R.N. campaign, which ends Sunday. The aim of it is to address “quality of life issues” and to target “specific geographic areas traditionally plagued with nuisance type behaviours,” according to the London police website.

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“Perhaps today was supposed to be one of their hit list days,” Tracey said.

London police could not be reached for comment on Saturday.