High School Cheerleaders
Cheerleading is not a new sport. In fact the history of cheerleading can be traced back to the late 1800s. It was in the 1880s when the first recorded, organized cheer was performed, and it occurred on the Princeton College campus at a football game.
The history of cheerleading as an organized sport actually began at the University of Minnesota, and was officially initiated in 1898 by a student named Johnny Campbell. No, Johnny did not dress in a cheerleading uniform and wave pom-poms, but he did direct the crowd watching a game in an organized cheer.
High school cheerleaders emerged around the 1930s. This was when both
college and high school cheerleaders began to use pom-poms, and women
began to take over the sport of cheerleading. Today, most high school
cheerleaders are girls.
If you are thinking you might like to join your high school cheerleaders, you need to be in good physical shape. The most important physical skill you will need is flexibility. You need to work on stretching the muscles in your body, especially your legs. Also, work on coordination that will help you in doing cheers.
Today, high school cheerleaders use intricate gymnastics in their routines. They not only spark school spirit, but they also participate in statewide competitions that focus on the skills and techniques of the sport of cheerleading. Today’s cheerleading is a sport that requires good physical fitness. Many cheerleaders are now receiving college scholarships for their aptitude in the sport. There are few American sports that do not have cheerleaders to go with them, and to think it all started with a simple cheer at Princeton!