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Just as any anything else, cheerleading has quite a history behind it.
In ancient times spectators cheered for runners in races held during the
first ever Olympic Games in ancient Greece. In the 1860's students in
Great Britain began cheering at competitive sporting events and soon
the idea spread to the United States. At Princeton in New Jersey, in
1865 the first pep club was formed and they created the first-known
cheer:
"Tah rah rah
Tiger Tiger Tiger
Sis sis sis
Boom boom boom
Aaaahhhhh!
Princton! Princeton! Princeton!"(Kuch 9)
The history of organized cheerleading started in 1898. The University of
Minnesota was having a pitiful football season. One fan decided to
write a letter to the Ariel, "The Official Paper of The University
of Minnesota," and complain. He wrote "Everyone's been crying, 'Keep
up your spirits, and we will have a winning team bye and bye.' I say give
us a winning team and our spirits will take care of themselves."
(Froiland 13)
Everyone agreed that something had to be done and soon a meeting was
called of all University of Minnesota students and faculty before the
game with Madison Wisconsin. One of the University's professors presented
a brilliant scientific thesis on fan support. He stated that the
collective stimuli of several hundred students focused on sending
positive energy in the team's direction would help the team win. The
professor concluded with a rousing cry: "Go to Madison! Go to
Madison! Apply the summation of stimuli!" (Froiland 13)
The game came and went, and the Gophers got killed 28-0. The cheer didn't
work. It just didn't roll off of the tongue the right way. Something d
ifferent had to be done to get the Gopher fans riled up. This is where
Jack Campbell, a then first-year medical student, stepped in and he
became the first ever cheerleader. Someone needs to lead the yells with
organized cheering, he explained. And there needed to be variety, not
just "He's all right" and "They're all right." So, the next game,
Campbell led the crowd in a cheer that marked history:
"Rah Rah Rah!
Sku-u-mah hoo-rah
Hoo-rah!
Varsity! Varsity!
Minn-e-so-tah!" (Fecteau 18)
Thus, cheerleading in the United States was born.
Cheerleading, believe it or not, was dominated by men in its early years.
However, when large numbers of young men went off to fight in World War
II, the tables turned. More than 90 percent of cheerleaders were female
from that point on. (Fecteau 18)
The evolution of cheerleading to a sport, again led by The University of
Minnesota, started in the 1920's with the inclusion of gymnastics and
tumbling routines. This helped cheerleaders to become known for their
athletic ability. The 1930's brought on the growth of showmanship in
cheerleading, and cheerleading became more entertaining to watch. Widespread
use of the megaphone started in the 1900's and the famous pom pon was
introduced in the 1950's by Lawrence Herkimer. (Fecteau 22)
Herkimer has done so much for cheerleading in the United States. He founded
the National Cheerleading Association at Southern Methodist University
after the holding of the first and second cheerleading clinics in 1946
and 1947. He also taught at the first cheerleading camp at Sam Houston
College. The first year fifty two girls attended and by the next year the
size of the camp had grown to 350. Herkimer had no idea that he would end
up with 20,000 girls attending cheerleading camp in the summertime. Herkimer
also was the inventor of a very popular cheerleading jump which was
named "the herkie" after him. (Villarreal 18)
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Hillari on Cheerleading...
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I have been a cheerleader since I was four years old, cheering for my pre-school at
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in Memphis, Tennessee. Afterwards, I cheered
for my father's recreational basketball team, the Bartlett Razorbacks, through
a program designed by the Bartlett Optimist Club. Upon completion of that season,
I was picked up by Frankie Conklin, sponsor of the well known competitive program,
the Memphis Elite All-Stars. Being the youngest cheerleader (at age 5) on a
squad competing at the 4th-6th grade level, we managed to place first place in
two regional competitions and second place at another. After being personally
interviewed by ESPN2 at the UCA Nationals, I moved up to the next
level the following year, cheering in several more competitions, including
being ranked Grand National Champions at the ASC (American Spirit Championships)
National Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, in early 1998.
I have been cheering competitively since Kindergarten, and have a long list
of Regional and National Championships uner my belt. I will always love
cheerleading.
Always.
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Memphis Elite All Stars Junior Prep (Senior Youth Red) Cheer Squad (2001-2002),
Sponsor Frankie Conklin
Germantown Cheer Company Youth Cheer Squad (2000-2001),
Coach Melissa Tremmer/Kenya Hill
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UCA/UPA Southeastern Classic, Mid-South Coliseum; Memphis, Tennessee (10/2000) -
1st Place Youth Division
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UCA Regionals (11/2000) -
1st Place Youth Division
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America Cheer Power Championship (11/2000) -
1st Place Youth Division
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UCA Smokey Mountain Championship, Gatlinburg, Tennessee (12/2000) -
1st Place Youth Division
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UCA National Championship, Disney World; Orlando, Florida (03/2001) -
3rd Place Youth Division
Germantown Cheer Company Youth Cheer Squad (1999-2000),
Coach Melissa Tremmer/Ashley Robertson
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UCA Regional Competition, Cleavland High School; Birmingham, Alabama (10/1999) -
1st Place Youth Division
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Sill Building Regionals List
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UCA National Championship, Disney World; Orlando, Florida (03/2000) -
4th Place Youth Division
Memphis Angels Junior Varsity Cheer Squad (1998-1999),
Coach Todd Ganguish
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UCA Regional Competition, Tupelo High School; Tupelo, Mississippi (12/1998) -
1st Place Jr. Varsity Division
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Fractured Growth Plate Injury - Did not compete remainder of season (12/1998)
Memphis All Star Generals Youth Cheer Squad (Summer 1998),
Coach Tanya Baker
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UCA Regional Camp Competition, Univ. of Memphis; Memphis, Tennessee (07/1998) -
1st Place Youth Home Routine
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UCA Regional Camp Competition, Univ. of Memphis; Memphis, Tennessee (07/1998) -
1st Place Youth Overall
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UCA Mid-South Fair Competition, Tim McCarver Stadium; Memphis, Tennessee (09/1998) -
4th Place Youth Division
Memphis Elite All Stars Junior Prep (Senior Youth Red) Cheer Squad (1997-1998),
Sponsor Frankie Conklin
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COA Regional Camp Competition, Univ. of Memphis; Memphis, Tennessee (07/1997) -
1st Place Youth Division
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UCA/UPA Southeastern Classic; Memphis, Tennessee (10/1997) -
2nd Place Youth Division
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UCA Regional Competition, Houston Middle School; Germantown, Tennessee (11/1997) -
5th Place Youth Division
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WCA Regional Competition, Opryland; Nashville, Tennessee (12/1997) -
11th Place Youth Division
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ASC National Championship, Union Station; St. Louis, Missouri (01/1998) -
1st Place Grand National Champions Youth Division
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UCA National Championship, Disney World; Orlando, Florida (03/1998) -
4th Place Youth Division
Memphis Elite All Stars Junior Prep (Junior Youth Blue) Cheer Squad (1996-1997),
Sponsor Frankie Conklin
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NHSCCC Magnolia Regional Competition; Clinton, Mississippi (9/1996) -
1st Place Youth Division
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UCA/UPA Southeastern Classic; Memphis, Tennessee (10/1996) -
2nd Place Youth Division
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COA Regional Competition; Alamo, Tennessee (11/1996) -
1st Place Youth Division
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UCA National Championship, Disney World; Orlando, Florida (03/1997) -
15th Place Youth Division
Bartlett Optimist Razorbacks Cheer Squad (1996-1997),
Sponsor Melissa Fowlkes
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Non Competitive - Cheered for Youth Recreational Basketball Games
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Day School Cheer Squad (1995-1996),
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Non Competitive - Cheered for Youth Parish Basketball Games
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What is a cheerleading section without pictures? Below are the links
to both on-site and off-site images of Hillari B. Fowlkes
pertaining to Cheerleading. We are currently working on MPEG versions
of all competitions, so look for the them soon.
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Works Cited and Other Links
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Listed below are some popular cheerleading sites and where to find
more information about this incredible sport. Each link will open up in a new
browser window.
Works Cited in the Introduction:
Brianne.
Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska Web Site Content.
Coburn, Pam. Cheer Magazine. Vol. 1, Issue 2, 1993: pp. 9.
Kuch, K.D. The Cheerleaders Almanac. New York:Random House, 1996: pp. 8-9.
Davis, Julie. American Cheerleader. Vol. 3, Issue 1, 1997: pp. 46, 48, 63.
Fecteau, Christine. Cheer Magazine. Vol. 1, Issue 1, 1993: pp. 18-19, 22-23.
Froiland, Paul. Cheer Magazine. Vol. 1, Issue 1, 1993: pp. 13, 30-31, 39.
Lovvorn, Brad. Cheer Magazine. Vol. 1, Issue 1, 1993: pp. 25-27.
Villarreal, Cindy. The Cheerleader's Guide to Life. New York: HarperCollins, 1994: pp. 17-19.
Webb, Jeff. American Cheerleader. Vol. 3, Issue 2, 1997: pp. 65, 97.
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