UK's "other" dynasty
by Dashing Rachel on Aug 21, 2011 9:30 PM EDT
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PrintWhen you think of the University of Kentucky Wildcats, you think of their men's basketball team and their all-time record of 2052-647. But there is another yet overlooked dynasty--the University of Kentucky cheerleading squad.
The roots began when Greenup County High School entered the UCA National High School Cheerleading back in the 1979-1980 season. At that time, cheerleaders were selected for their looks than their talent. Tumbling was minimal and stunts and pyramids were very impressive not to mention the outfits were old school.
Greenup's success prompted college squads to jump on the competition bandwagon. UCA held its first annual College Cheerleading Championship back in the 1983-1984 season and Kentucky was one of those schools that competed. The Wildcats won their first of 18 Division IA Championships the following year and never looked back. The Wildcats reload year after year as they became one of the top cheerleading squads in the country.
Today, schools such as Alabama (the 2011 champions), Central Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana State, Ohio State, and Memphis have seriously challenged UK for cheerleading supremacy, but the Kentucky Wildcats will always be the squad that started it all.
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Yep!
And I hope UK wins its 19th in January. GO BIG BLUE!
Here comes the Cats......
Hopefully 19th and 8th on the way this year and would hope for 1st for Wildcat football but i believe the Tide will win it all this coming year. GO BIG BLUE!!!!!!!.
by UKWildcats #1 on Aug 22, 2011 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Great
My only regret with UK cheerleading is that they don’t perform often enough during halftime of basketball games.
nice write up!
The UK Cheer Squad does an admirable job of generating pride and excitement from the crowd, so much so that KDH wants MORE! ;j
Their sacrifice, dedication, imagination and UK pride are essential to a fans’ feeling of involvement in a sporting event. I just wish they could attend a larger variety of sporting events. Let em harass the opposing golfers, distract the track and field enemies, the list goes on!
My favorite cheerleader moment was during a basketball game. A player from the other team came screaming out of bounds (trying to save a ball i think), ran into a brick wall posing as a UK cheerleader and fell to the floor. He started to throw a fit and was about to get in the cheerleader’s face when the basketball player realized what exactly he was up against and went back to the court. The folks in the booth couldn’t get enough of it and it was replayed numerous times throughout the rest of the game.
I have kleptomania,
but when it gets bad,
I take something for it.
And not only that
Every time the UK cheerleaders performing the Wildcat Pyramid at Rupp Arena (with the UK flag in the background) or Commonwealth Stadium (sans the flag) while the band plays the 2001 Space Odyssey theme, the crowd goes crazy.
by Dashing Rachel on Aug 22, 2011 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I always knew the UK cheerleaders were great
but until I moved up to Big Ten/MAC country I never appreciated how far ahead of other conferences SEC cheerleading is in general.
Eagle Totem - Comprehensive EMU coverage.
I am a huge KY fan in all regards.
When I go to UK football/basketball games, i make sure i take the kids down to the bottom of the bowl early before the game to watch the cheerleaders warm up. Their skills are so incredible, it is almost unreal what they can do…gravity just does not seem to apply! I make sure the kids get the entire UK exposure when we go…
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