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Ariann - 3 year veteran
Teather - Back on the squad after a few years off…
Lauren - 4 year veteran
History
Cheerleaders warming up for competition
Cheerleading first appeared in Great Britain and the U.S. in the late 1880s with the crowd chanting as a way to encourage school spirit at athletic events. The first organized, recorded cheer was yelled “Ray, Ray’ Ray! TIGER, TIGER, SIS, SIS, SIS! BOOM, BOOM, BOOM! Aaaaah! PRINCETON, PRINCETON, PRINCETON!” at Princeton University in 1884.[5] A few years later, Princeton graduate, Thomas Peebles introduced the idea of organized crowd cheering and [American] football to the University of Minnesota. However, it was not until 1898 that University of Minnesota student Johnny Campbell directed a crowd in cheering “Rah, Rah, Rah! Sku-u-mar, Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah! Varsity! Varsity! Varsity, Minn-e-So-Tah!”, making Campbell the very first cheerleader and November 2, 1898 the official birth date of organized cheerleading]].[5] Soon after, the University of Minnesota organized a “yell leader” squad of 6 male students, who still use Campbell’s original cheer today.[5] Cheerleading started out as an all-male activity. Females began to participating in the 1920s, due to limited availability of female collegiate sports. During this time, gymnastics, tumbling, and megaphones were incorporated into popular cheers. Today it is estimated that 97% of cheerleading participants are female, but males still makeup 50% of collegiate cheering squads. [6]
Cornell University cheerleader on a 1906 postcard
In 1948, Lawrence “Herkie” Herkimer, of Dallas, TX formed the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) as a way to hold cheerleading clinics. In 1949, The National Cheerleaders Association held its first clinic in Huntsville, TX with 52 girls in attendance.[6] “Herkie” contributed many “firsts” to the sport including: founding the Cheerleader & Danz Team uniform supply company, inventing the herkie, (where one leg is bent towards the ground and the other is out to the side as high as it will stretch in the toe touch position)[7] and perfecting the “Spirit Stick”. By the 1960s, college cheerleaders began hosting workshops across the nation, teaching fundamental cheer skills to eager high school age girls.[5] In 1965, Fred Gastoff invented the vinyl pom pom and it was introduced into competitions by the International Cheerleading Foundation (now the World Cheerleading Association or WCA).[5] Organized cheerleading competitions began to pop up with the first ranking of the “Top Ten College Cheerleading Squads” and “Cheerleader All America” awards given out by the International Cheerleading Foundation in 1967.[5] In 1978, America was introduced to competitive cheerleading by the first broadcast of Collegiate Cheerleading Championships on CBS.[5] Around 1995, American Cheer and Cheers & More magazines debuted featuring articles on technique, upcoming events, routine ideas, resources for coaches and the latest cheer fashion.
In the 1960’s National Football League (NFL) teams began to organize professional cheerleading teams. It was the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders who gained the spotlight with their revealing outfits and sophisticated dance moves, which debuted in the 1972-1973 season, but were first seen widely in Super Bowl X (1976). This caused the image of cheerleaders to permanently change, with many other NFL teams emulating them. Most of the professional teams’ cheerleading squads would more accurately be described as dance teams by today’s standards; as they rarely, if ever, actively encourage crowd noise or perform modern cheerleading moves.
The 1980s saw the onset of modern cheerleading with more difficult stunt sequences and gymnastics being incorporated into routines. Cheerleading organizations such as the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors (AACCA) started applying universal safety standards to decrease the number of injuries and prevent dangerous stunts, pyramids and tumbling passes from being included in routines. [8] In 2003, the National Council for Spirit Safety and Education (NCSSE) was formed to offer safety training for youth, school, all star and college coaches. The NCAA requires college cheer coaches to successfully complete a nationally recognized safety-training program. The NCSSE or AACCA certification programs are both recognized by the NCAA.
Today, cheerleading is most closely associated with American football, and to a lesser degree basketball. Sports such as soccer, ice hockey, volleyball, baseball, and wrestling sometimes sponsor cheerleading squads. The Florida Marlins were the first Major League Baseball team to have cheerleaders. Debuting in 2003, the “Marlin Mermaids” gained national exposure and have influenced other MLB teams to develop their own cheer/dance squads.
According to latest statistics,[9] there are nearly 3 million cheerleaders in the USA alone, and half as many dance team members and gymnasts, taking the total number of participants involved in cheerleading and allied activities in the USA to above 5 million..[1] There are also tens of thousands of cheerleaders in Europe, Central America, Australia, and Asia.[1]
Millcreek Spirits Starz at the Final Destination/Worlds Best.
[edit] All Star Cheerleading
In the 1980s, cheerleading teams not associated with schools or sports leagues, whose main objective was competition, began to emerge. ESPN first broadcasted the National High School Cheerleading Competition nationwide in 1983.[10]. All-star cheerleading involves a squad of anywhere between 5-36 females and/or males. The squad prepares year-round for many different competition appearances, but they only actually perform for up to 2½ minutes during their routines. The numbers of competitions a team participates in varies from team to team, but generally, most teams tend to participate in eight-ten competitions a year. During a competition routine, a squad performs carefully choreographed stunting, tumbling, jumping and dancing to their own custom music. Teams create their routines to an eight-count system and apply that to the music so the team members execute the elements with precise timing and synchronization.
Judges at the competition watch for illegal moves from the group or any individual member. Here, an illegal move is something that is not allowed in that division due to difficulty and safety restrictions. More generally, judges look at the difficulty and execution of jumps, stunts and tumbling, synchronization, creativity, the sharpness of the motions, showmanship, and overall routine execution.
All-star cheerleaders are placed into divisions, which are grouped, based upon age, size of the team, gender of participants, and ability level. The age levels vary from under 4 year of age to 18 years and over. The divisions used by the USASF/IASF are currently Tiny, Mini, Youth, Junior, Junior International, Senior, and Open International and Open.[11]
Not only is competitive cheerleading popular throughout most of the United States, but in other nations as well. If a team places high enough at selected USASF/IASF sanctioned national competitions, they could be included in the USASF Worlds invitational and compete against teams from all over the world. Although each country is unique, overall the rules remain the same in order to maintain a level of fairness, if any competitor falls out of a stunt or mess up, points will be deducted.[1]
[edit] USASF World Cheerleading Championships
The foremost competition for all-star cheerleading is the annual USASF World Championships held at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. Teams must qualify for the event by finishing at or near the top at one of several qualifying competitions. US teams have won the vast majority of the medals, but an increasing number of strong teams from around the globe have come to compete in the event in recent years. This competition has grown in popularity and prestige since it’s beginning as a small competition in 2004. In 2007, over 100 teams from 15 different countries competed in the event.[1]
(from Wikipedia)
![cheerleader :]](/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi178.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw266%2Fcheybabyx34%2FDSCN3848.jpg&searchTerm=cheerleader&pageOffset=19)
Abby and Nicole
2008 Calendar Cover Girl Kelley
Shannon, Khlover and Heather
Nicole and Jamilla
Abby
Jessica and Donald Wells
Eileen and Courtney
Courtney and Abby
Jamilla and Melani
Melani and Arlene
.
Warming up
Former AHL Kentucky Thoroughblade, former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader, former Atlanta Hawks Dancer and former Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader Aisha.
Adrianne and Audrea
Adrianne:
Oakland Raiderettes (Capt.), 4 yrs
San Francisco 49′ers Gold Rush (Capt.), 4 yrs
1997 Pro Bowl Cheerleader - 49ers Gold Rush
Los Angeles Raiderettes (Capt.), 6 yrs
Audrea:
Fmr Seattle Sonics/Storm Dance Team,
Director, 3 yrs
Seattle Sonics Dance Team (Capt.), 2 yrs
Los Angeles Clippers Spirit (Capt.), 4 yrs
Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders, 2 yrs
USC Song Girls, 2 yrs
Ali Dudek
Four-year vet Seattle Sonics Dancers
2002 Seattle Sea Gal
Alicia
Co-captain, AIFA Carolina Speed Dance Team
Amy
AFL Houston Thunderbears Lightning Bolts
Cheerleader (3 years)
NBA Houston Rockets Power Dancer
(5 years)
Amy
Seven-year Carolina TopCat
2004-06 TopCat Captain
2006 Pro Bowl TopCat
> Amy Campbell
Cheered for Falcons and Bengals 
Angeline Butler
Three-time Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader,
Mrs. US Globe 2004
Anneka
Two-time KC Chiefs Cheerleader
From the Tennessee Titans Website:
Lindsay is in her third year of Tennessee Titans Cheerleading . She is one of our team’s most dedicated members and a true team leader. Below is her spotlight, our first of 2007:
TITANS ONLINE: How do you juggle married life, work and cheering?
Balance has always played an important role in my life. I can remember being around age 7 and involved in softball, soccer, golf, cheering, dance and gymnastics! I continued my active lifestyle through high school and college and found that I actually enjoyed the fast pace. I couldn’t continue my desire for such an active life without a wonderful husband who is extremely supportive of me being a Titans cheerleader. I am also fortunate enough to work with amazing people and for an amazing company, who understands my commitment and helps me balance out both facets of life. I will say that if I lost my day planner, I would be in a big mess!
TITANS ONLINE: What is your favorite style of dance and why?
I love dancing and entertaining in general. I don’t necessarily have a favorite; I like different styles for different reasons. Hip hop is energetic and fun to perform where pom is more comfortable due to my cheering days. Each time that I perform at LP Field, I still get chills, no matter what style of dance we’re performing!
TITANS ONLINE: What prompted you to try out for the Titans your first year?
I’ll never forget the moment I realized I wanted to tryout for the Titans. It was my first time at a Titans game and I was sitting in the very top row of LP Field. All I could focus on were the cheerleaders and I literally didn’t take my eyes off them the entire game, which is ironic because I’m a HUGE football fan. Watching them dance made me reminisce on my past years of performing and cheering and at that moment I thought about what it would be like to perform again. The next day I decided to go for it and, after some intense research online, I began training. I’m a very dedicated and determined person, so once I made the decision to tryout, I wanted to do the best job I could and not stop until I made it, and that’s exactly what I did. I’m incredibly thankful that I made the decision to tryout and I try to remind myself daily of how fortunate I am to have this opportunity.
TITANS ONLINE: What are your long term goals and aspirations?
I am very fortunate to work in a field I love at a company I have admired for years. I hope to continue my advertising career, with a primary focus on outdoor advertising. As advertising continues to evolve, I look forward to learning and growing with the industry. Aside from work, I long to start a family of my own one day and strive to learn how to be the best mother and wife possible. In the meantime, my husband and I recently purchased a new home, so I hope to grow a green thumb soon as well as master the kitchen.
TITANS ONLINE: What or who is your inspiration and why?
My inspiration would definitely have to be my parents. Through all my activities and experiences in life, my parents have always been my biggest fans. They continually support me and remain extremely close. I hope people see a reflection of them in me and I hope to give my children all the love and encouragement they have shown me through the years.
TITANS ONLINE: Give us your cheer/dance background.
Growing up in Nashville , I started cheering locally in the pee wee program, called the Bellevue Steelers. At the age of five, I began dancing and continued both throughout middle school when I decided to only cheer in high school. My first love has always been cheerleading - I love feeding off the crowd’s energy and I love football - so it combined the best of both worlds. I took a break in college, but upon graduation and my first Titans game, I immediately knew where I wanted to be again.
TITANS ONLINE: How has professional cheerleading changed or altered your life?
Well, for starters - I am in the best shape of my life! Being a professional cheerleader takes a lot of hard work and dedication. I am a stronger and more confident woman by being a part of the Titans organization and being surrounded by women who encourage and build each other. It has also shown me the importance of community service and has given me a greater appreciation for giving back to the community.
TITANS ONLINE: What is the biggest challenge of being a Tennessee Titans Cheerleader?
I think the biggest challenge of being a Titans Cheerleader is trying to overcome the stereotypes of professional cheerleaders. Many people perceive us to be uneducated, self-centered, catty girls; which couldn’t be farther from the truth. I consider myself extremely blessed to work with 30 talented, classy, intelligent women who are such an inspiration to me on a daily basis. Our team consists of mothers, business professionals, teachers, entrepreneurs and students. It’s shocking how many people are surprised when they learn that we are truly professionals, on and off the field.
TITANS ONLINE: Describe Lindsay S in three words.
Energetic, Loyal, and Hard Working
TITANS ONLINE: Where is your dream vacation spot and why?
I have always wanted to visit Australia . I love the way Aussie’s talk! And, how cool would it be to see a Kangaroo hop by?
The New York Jets Flight Crew provided a sneak preview in front of an audience for the first time Tuesday afternoon. About a dozen reporters and a couple of photographers and videographers watched eight of the 10 members of the flag/dance group perform to a pair of songs at Hofstra University.
“I think it went very well,” said Linda, an interior design major at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “It is very different than being in the [Jets’ practice] bubble, where it’s confined and nobody is there to having reporters and people looking at us. We love to perform, so this is what we do best. It’s fun.”
The two-song set began with a flag routine accompanied by Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” on the loudspeakers. The young women, adorned in warmup outfits composed of mint-colored tops and Jets Green pants with mint stripes, ran out of the end zone to near midfield before returning to the other end and swinging the flags.
“They will be involved from the very beginning of the game - player introductions all the way through the very end of the game,” said Denise Garvey, the Flight Crew’s choreographer. “They are running the flags for touchdowns, field goals, player introductions, things like that. So they are really part of the whole gameday experience.”
A Jets-themed song was the second number and that’s the piece the young women danced to. When asked if the Jets were trying to avoid a cheerleader label, Garvey talked about the distinctiveness of her group. “We are not trying to stay away from that, but we are really excited about the unique idea that we have, which is a flag crew. And the idea that they are running flags throughout the course of the game is really an integral part of what they do, so that’s why we are proud to call them a flag crew,” she said. “They do choreographed sequences on the sideline, but that’s only one part of what they do. I think the flags are what set them apart.”
Garvey, who was hired in March, held a closed audition in June and made the selections shortly thereafter. The 10 members have had their noses to the grindstone since. “We have been practicing three times a week: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. It’s been a lot of work,” Linda said. “We have been running laps, doing pushups, doing crunches, learning the new routines. There has been a lot of memorizing. There is a lot of stuff to learn, but we learn it as a group and we look pretty good together. We’re a good team and everyone really likes each other.”
The Flight Crew will be part of the gameday festivities Friday night when the Jets host the Atlanta Falcons at the Meadowlands in the preseason opener for both clubs. Linda and her teammates will debut their snazzy uniforms when the regular season kicks off against the New England Patriots on Sept. 9.
“It’s very exciting,” Linda said. “I’m a bit nervous, but I love performing in front of large crowds. The adrenaline is pumping and it will be a really great game, so I’m excited.”
Shelly
Renee’, Christina and Barbara
Jackie
Manda
Shannon
Erin, Kimberly, GeNienne and Courtney
Jennifer
GeNienne
Anabel
Kelley
