Editor's note: In honor of the university's centennial year, The Daily News is counting down 100 days to the university's celebration Sept. 6 with 100 of Ball State's most famous traditions and figures. Check back each day to read about Cardinal history.
From cheering on the Cardinals and making appearances throughout the community to competing in national competitions, the Ball State Cheerleading/Spirit Program works to promote school spirit and be ambassadors for Ball State.
The program has two squads — co-ed and all-girl — and typically cheers at football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball matches.
Throughout the year the program also hosts events such as open gyms, stunt clinics and alumni day.
Alongside practices, the teams also attend the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) summer camp to prepare for the UCA College National Championship in Orlando, Florida.
In the 2018 competition, the co-ed squad was awarded Runner Up in the Small Coed Division I category, a record high for the team.
“When we were awarded second, we were beyond excited,” freshman cheerleader Raina Gulachek said in a previous Daily News Article. “Everyone was overwhelmed with emotions and we were all crying, screaming and hugging each other. At that moment, we felt all of our hard work pay off.”
The program is currently coached by Wendy Richards who graduated from Ball State in 1988 and was a three-year member of the squad, according to Ball State’s website.
Tryouts for the squad are held in April and require interested members to perform cheers, stunts and tumbling as well as maintain good academic standing throughout their time at Ball State.
Read more centennial content here.
Contact Brooke Kemp with comments at bmkemp@bsu.edu or on Twitter @brookemkemp.
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