The 1960’s was the first year that competitions started.  Cheerleading didn’t include gymnastics, complicated stunts, or running tumbling.

          Cheerleaders in the 21^st century don’t stand on the sidelines.  They perform on center stage.  They are dancers, stunters,

gymnasts, cross trainers, choreographers, writers, artists, and organizers.  Some are bases strong enough to lift people their own weight.  Sometimes about their head or in one hand.  Others are so light they can be tossed twenty feet into the air, flip, and neatly turn a double twist as they fall into the bases’ arms.

          Some become all-stars, while others continue the time-honored tradition of rooting for the home team.  They still share with spirit leaders who’ve gone before them the ability to whip up the crowd’s spirits with their bright smiles and winning attitudes.  Cheerleaders will always need to build that special link with the crowd, whether they are elite all-stars dazzling their spectators with incredible stunts and tumbles, or high school squads pumping up the Friday night football crowd.