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SANTA CLARA — The slightly built freshman cheerleader just wanted to support the Wilcox High School football team Friday night in the regular-season finale on Senior Night in Santa Clara.

The 14-year-old boy, who allegedly was subject to homophobic slurs last month by some football players, later recalled how much fun he had joining the Chargers’ 26-member cheer squad that included two other males Friday night.

But throughout the first half of playoff-bound Wilcox’s 44-0 victory over Sunnyvale-Fremont, the young man had no idea that about 35 spectators sitting in the first three rows midfield were cheerleaders from across the Bay Area. They were there to support him.

“I couldn’t believe it,” the Wilcox freshman said after the game. “It was special.”

This news organization is not identifying the alleged victim and his family because he is a minor.

About five minutes into the third quarter the young man went into the stands to meet Liam Potolsky, a Cupertino-Homestead High School junior who had rallied cheerleaders from around the area to attend this game on a damp November night.

“I hope you know, you’re not alone,” Potolsky told his new friend. “You’re family and you always are if you ever need one.”

The showing of support came in the aftermath of an Oct. 18 incident in which some Wilcox High School football players allegedly directed homophobic slurs at the male cheerleader. The name-calling began at a pep rally and continued later that night during the Chargers’ game against Milpitas High, according to the male cheerleader’s father.

The incident led to investigations by the Santa Clara Police Department and Santa Clara Unified School District officials.

Police investigators announced Nov. 4 the actions of the students did not rise to the level of a criminal violation. But Capt. Wahid Kazem added in a statement, “Although not deemed criminal in nature, behavior that is hateful, threatening and mean-spirited has no place in our community.”

School officials had announced Oct. 24 that they had taken action in the case but provided few details.

“From a disciplinary standpoint, the school has taken the actions available given the facts of the case, which range from removal from athletics to suspension from school,” Wilcox principal Kristin Gonzalez wrote in a seven-paragraph announcement sent to parents.

School district spokeswoman Jennifer Dericco has declined to provide more details, citing student privacy rules.

Wilcox (8-2, 6-0 Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s De Anza Division) is scheduled to open the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs Friday. The Chargers, reigning state champions, are ranked No. 8 in the Bay Area by this news organization.

The cheerleaders who appeared in support Friday night said Wilcox’s cheer coaches had asked them to wait until next fall to attend a game. But the cheerleaders said they wanted to make a statement while the issue was in the open. A petition on Change.org has received more than 12,000 signatures since being launched three weeks ago.

“This is about him feeling supported but also about every male cheerleader so they know they are not alone,” said Potolsky, 16. “I don’t like to see other people getting bullied and I just want to spread the love and spread awareness.”

Potolsky had a gold-plated medallion draped around his neck that he recently won at the world championships with the California Allstars of Livermore. He is not a member of his high school cheer squad.

Potolsky’s father, Adam, said he warned his son about becoming a target in middle school when Liam began cheerleading as a sixth-grader. But the family also supported the boy’s interest.

The Wilcox freshman has received similar support from his family. His sister participated in cheerleading for four years at Wilcox. She was the captain of the squad last school year as a senior.

“He’s just following his sister’s footsteps,” said their mother.

The mother approached the cheer group in the stands. There were members of San Jose State’s cheer team, Saratoga-Prospect and San Jose-James Lick high schools. One member of Fremont High’s team left his group on the visitors’ sideline to join fellow cheerleaders.

Representatives from Jamz Cheer and Dance, Rebels Elite San Francisco, Cheer San Francisco, Rogue Athletics Bay Area and Nor*Cal Elite All-Stars of San Jose also attended the game.

Shelton Jorden of Cheer San Francisco graduated from Wilcox High School in 2010 when he was the only male member of the Chargers’ color guard that performs with the marching band. He recalled suffering from inappropriate remarks a decade earlier.

“I wish I had the same support that he did,” Jorden said, referring to the Wilcox freshman.

The 35 supporters broke into a chant of “Let’s Go Wilcox,” before the Chargers cheer squad performed on the field at halftime.

Then the mother of the Wilcox freshman approached Liam. A little later, they hugged below the stands.

“I’m crying,” the mother said. “Not for me. For my son.”

She told Adam Potolsky, the father, “You’re showing love and support. They didn’t have to come out to do this.”

Gus Perez, whose daughter is a Wilcox cheerleader, also thanked the group as he departed the stadium after the game. He recalled how the alledged homophobic slurs directed at a teammate left his daughter in tears.

“It’s just sad,” Perez said.

The cheerleader’s mother said she was proud of how her son spoke out about being harassed. But she added, “it wasn’t just my son. It was the team. They are a group of strong women. They knew what was done was wrong.”

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On Saturday morning, Adam Potolsky said he and his son felt good about what had transpired the previous night.

“Message sent and message received,” he said. “What more could we ask for?”