A junior at Fort Hamilton High School is changing cheerleading by becoming the first boy to ever join the team.

Youssef Hasweh says he was welcomed with open arms by fellow teammates. But acceptance has not been far and wide.

Hasweh says classmates have given him uncomfortable stares while he wears his uniform. He also says people who do not even know him contact him and say hateful things.

He says that he wants to help spark a chain reaction and break stereotypes within the school.

One of his coaches used to cheer at the school and says she is glad to have someone on the squad who will help, literally and figuratively, hold the team on his shoulders

Hasweh and his team say they hope to win big at competitions this year and hope for other boys to join the team.