It was November 2, 1898, when something entirely new burst onto the American sports scene. At the University of Minnesota, a spirited student named Johnny Campbell took the lead in rallying a group of his peers to do something no one had formally done before — organize a dedicated cheerleading squad. What drove them was simple: they wanted to fire up the crowd at a football game and amplify school pride. What they couldn't have known was that this energetic experiment would plant the seeds of a beloved American tradition. From that moment forward, cheerleaders of every age group have been electrifying games across the country, dancing and chanting to lift spirits and rally support.

Fun Facts:

  • Johnny Campbell is widely regarded as the very first cheerleader, famously directing a group of students in the iconic chant, "Rah, Rah, Rah! Ski-U-Mah!"
  • Originally, cheerleading was an exclusively male pursuit. It wasn't until the 1920s that women were welcomed into the fold, transforming it into a far more inclusive and diverse community.
  • Over the decades, cheerleading has grown well beyond the sidelines, branching into competitive events and international competitions.
  • To this day, the University of Minnesota proudly celebrates its cheerleading heritage and maintains one of the most highly regarded cheer programs in the country.
  • Many people underestimate cheerleading, viewing it as purely aesthetic. In reality, it demands extraordinary physical ability — from gravity-defying stunts requiring tremendous strength and balance to complex dance sequences that call for sharp agility and precise coordination. It genuinely pushes participants to their limits, which is exactly why numerous organizations around the world now recognize it as a legitimate sport.
  • Given that society remained quite conservative in 1898, it took considerable time before other schools embraced the cheerleading movement and adopted it themselves.
  • In 1903, the first cheerleading fraternity — Gamma Sigma — was established at the same university where it all began.