From Sidelines to Spotlight: Cheerleading’s Rise in Popularity

By:

Nathan Shriberg,

Cali Kroncke

Addison Miller

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (April 3, 2025)

For these athletes, cheerleading is not only a sport, but a passion and drive that allows them to push the limits of their abilities. In the recent five years, Indiana University’s Coed Cheer Team has gained significant traction and become more prevalent in the world of sports. Team member, Sydney O, when discussing how cheer has evolved in over the years added, “Every year there’s always new skills being added and made up.” The team’s success through this evolution can be attributed to their relentless dedication, time put in, and family-like atmosphere the team has created. The team, currently made up of twelve girls and fifteen guys, cater to a range of events and responsibilities all throughout campus, all throughout the year. These include big picture things such as cheering at men’s basketball and football games, special events around campus, as well as outreach for various organizations.

Along with the team itself growing in popularity, more men have joined the sport of cheer as a whole and have added significantly to the program. Team member, Micah Nathan, explained how hesitant he was to join in high school and even more so in college saying, “I was worried I wouldn’t have time for classes and other opportunities.” Many may be surprised how easily their time can be balanced with their two practices and two lifts a week and, with access to all the athletic facilities including gyms, dining halls, and physical therapy, it seems there are many positives to being on the team. There’s no doubt that the atmosphere among the team is nothing short of being a family according to the teammates. The brotherly impact the boys on the team have make the girls feel that they always have someone by their side and the girls have built-in best friends among one another.

The program ensures the team is fully equipped with complimentary Adidas cheer gear, gym and cheer shoes, practice and cheer uniforms, warmups, hats and winter wear. Along with practices and lifts, each member of the team must be fluent in all their cheers, band chants, stunts, as well the fight song and school song. Some of the stunts they frequently practice and preform include chair, lib, heel stretch, extensions, cupi’s, torches, and arabesque. These complex maneuvers, along with the chants, practices, and other obligations, cheering is far more competitive and time consuming than many people initially believe.  They spend countless hours perfecting their every move and go on to execute their performances perfectly and in a way that illuminates their identity and devotion.

IU’s coed cheer team is compiled of a group of diverse and unique individuals that come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. This offers an experience for the team that makes their performances rich and exciting to watch. Each member brings their own strengths and dedication to the team, and it’s clear their bonds extend beyond the mat and into their daily lives. The hours they spend together and the bonds that they create, allows them to refine their skills and build the trust necessary to execute their high-risk maneuvers. This team is not only a team, but also a family. People have gone through losses, injuries, and other personal issues, and yet this team is always right there to help the person up. This program not only allows them to grow as an individual, but sets them up for the real world as well. Everyone fights and works their hardest no matter if it is the beginning of the season or end, everyones dedication shows. When watching their performances, it is beyond clear that their commitment has paid off and is well earned.

In the world of cheer, performance and camaraderie mean everything. For IU’s coed cheer team, it’s a prime example of their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence and the support of one another. As their Head Cheer Coach Julie Horine says, “What we do is bigger than cheerleading.” This commitment has paid off, with their earning of accolades at national competition and bountiful admiration from the students of IU and elsewhere. To top it all off, these athletes are extraordinary on the field, but when it comes to the classroom, they all excel as well. Thirty-two athlete had a GPA of 3.2 or higher, a program high! As they continue to push boundaries and exceed expectations, it is certain that they are way above the rest.

Indiana University’s coed cheer team is witnessing firsthand the rise in popularity of the sport. Cheerleaders Micah Nathan and Sydney Onyschak share their experience.