University of Kentucky cheerleading squad
Encyclopedia
The University of Kentucky cheerleading squad is one of the most prestigious collegiate cheerleading
programs in the world. Representing the University of Kentucky
in Lexington, KY, the UK squad has won the Universal Cheerleaders Association National College Cheerleading Championship an unprecedented eighteen times, in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 - more than any other Division 1A school.
UK's squad is the only team to win back to back championships twice, once in 1987 and 1988 and again in 1995 and 1996. Further, UK is the only squad ever to win three, four, five, six, seven and eight championships in a row. UK's eight year streak of championships was broken in 2003 when they finished runner up to the University of Central Florida. They regained the title in January, 2004 and won their third straight in 2006. The University of Central Florida regained the championship in 2007 when UK finished in third place. But the next year, UK came home with their 16th title.
The UK Cheer Program is recognized in cheerleading circles as perhaps the finest cheer program in America as the squad has placed first 16 times and placed second four times in the National Championships. The squad also generates vocal support and significant enthusiasm for some of the finest athletic programs in the nation. The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
team is the winningest college basketball program in the nation and has won the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
seven times. In December 2009, the Kentucky Wildcats football
team made its fourth consecutive bowl appearance.
The squad receives substantial media exposure. Having finished in the top ten every year since the existence of the UCA National College Championships, each year the UK squad is seen on the ESPN
-televised Championships Program, which airs at least eight times nationally.
The squad is frequently the subject of highlight stories by television and radio stations and newspapers. The squad has been featured on the CBS Evening News
, Eye to Eye with Connie Chung
, and the CBS Morning Show
, and in the magazines Southern Living
, GQ, ESPN The Magazine
, and Seventeen
.
The cheerleaders once performed at the half time of the Denver Nuggets
(formerly coached by UK graduate, Dan Issel
) and the Miami Heat
(coached by UK graduate, Pat Riley
) game.
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
programs in the world. Representing the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in Lexington, KY, the UK squad has won the Universal Cheerleaders Association National College Cheerleading Championship an unprecedented eighteen times, in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 - more than any other Division 1A school.
UK's squad is the only team to win back to back championships twice, once in 1987 and 1988 and again in 1995 and 1996. Further, UK is the only squad ever to win three, four, five, six, seven and eight championships in a row. UK's eight year streak of championships was broken in 2003 when they finished runner up to the University of Central Florida. They regained the title in January, 2004 and won their third straight in 2006. The University of Central Florida regained the championship in 2007 when UK finished in third place. But the next year, UK came home with their 16th title.
The UK Cheer Program is recognized in cheerleading circles as perhaps the finest cheer program in America as the squad has placed first 16 times and placed second four times in the National Championships. The squad also generates vocal support and significant enthusiasm for some of the finest athletic programs in the nation. The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
team is the winningest college basketball program in the nation and has won the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
seven times. In December 2009, the Kentucky Wildcats football
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
team made its fourth consecutive bowl appearance.
The squad receives substantial media exposure. Having finished in the top ten every year since the existence of the UCA National College Championships, each year the UK squad is seen on the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
-televised Championships Program, which airs at least eight times nationally.
The squad is frequently the subject of highlight stories by television and radio stations and newspapers. The squad has been featured on the CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963....
, Eye to Eye with Connie Chung
Eye to Eye with Connie Chung
Eye to Eye With Connie Chung was a news show that aired on CBS from 1993 to 1995. The show, hosted by Connie Chung as a second project from her time as co-anchoring the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, she hosted and would often report, either on individual stories or doing interviews...
, and the CBS Morning Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
, and in the magazines Southern Living
Southern Living
Southern Living is a widely read lifestyle magazine aimed at readers in the Southern United States featuring recipes, house plans, and information about Southern culture and travel...
, GQ, ESPN The Magazine
ESPN The Magazine
ESPN The Magazine is a bi-weekly sports magazine published by the ESPN sports network in Bristol, Connecticut in the United States. The first issue was published on March 11, 1998....
, and Seventeen
Seventeen (magazine)
Seventeen is an American magazine for teenagers. It was first published in September 1944 by Walter Annenberg's Triangle Publications. News Corporation bought Triangle in 1988, and sold Seventeen to K-III Communications in 1991. Primedia sold the magazine to Hearst in 2003. It is still in the...
.
The cheerleaders once performed at the half time of the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
(formerly coached by UK graduate, Dan Issel
Dan Issel
Daniel Paul Issel is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player and coach.-Collegiate playing career:...
) and the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
(coached by UK graduate, Pat Riley
Pat Riley
Patrick James "Pat" Riley is an American professional basketball executive, and a retired coach and player in the NBA. Currently, he is team president of the Miami Heat. Widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time, Riley has served as the head coach of five championship teams...
) game.