On November 2, 1898, a group of courageous students at the University of Minnesota, led by the pioneering Johnny Campbell, officially launched organized cheerleading. Their bold initiative, aimed at boosting school spirit during a football game, unknowingly sparked a tradition that would become a cherished part of American sports culture. Since then, games have been enlivened by cheerleaders of all ages, dancing to uplift the crowd and bolster morale.

Fun Facts:

• Johnny Campbell is considered the first cheerleader, leading a group of students with the famous chant, “Rah, Rah, Rah! Ski-U-Mah!”
• Cheerleading began as a male-only activity, but in the 1920s, it opened its arms to women, becoming a more inclusive and diverse community.
• Cheerleading has expanded beyond sports, evolving into competitive events and global competitions.
• The University of Minnesota still honors its cheerleading history and hosts one of the most respected cheer programs in the country.
• Cheerleading, often misunderstood as a purely aesthetic activity, actually involves intense physical skill. From stunts that require strength and balance to intricate dance routines that demand agility and coordination, cheerleading is a sport that tests the limits of its participants. It’s no wonder that many organizations worldwide recognize it as such.
• It should be noted that society was still conservative in 1898, so it took a while before other schools adopted the cheerleading trend.
• The first cheerleading fraternity, named Gamma Sigma, was founded in 1903 at the same university.