The University of Kentucky Cheerleading Squad

No other college cheerleading squad has dominated the Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championships like the team from Kentucky.

The UK squad has won UCA's National College Cheerleading Championship an unprecedented sixteen (16) times, in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 - 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 Central Florida. They regained the title in January, 2004 and won their third straight in 2006. 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 Wildcat basketball team is the winningest college basketball program in the nation and has won the NCAA National Championship seven times! In December, 1999, the Wildcat football team made its second 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. In addition, the UK squad is seen on television as every UK basketball game is televised and a national or regional audience sees the majority of games. 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," Connie Chung's "Eye to Eye," and the "CBS Morning Show", in "Southern Living" and "Gentlemen's Quarterly," "ESPN the Magazine," and "Seventeen" magazines. The cheerleaders regularly attend University Athletics Association and Alumni Association functions. They represent the University at many charitable and public relations' events. The cheerleaders have performed at the half time of the Denver Nuggets (coached by UK graduate, Dan Issel) and the Miami Heat (formerly coached by UK graduate, Pat Riley) game and then appeared at the Denver UK Alumni Club function.

On the UK campus, UK cheerleaders are recognized as some of the finest athletes in the University's sports programs, as intelligent and outgoing students in the classroom, and as public relations ambassadors of the University of Kentucky and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Contact Information
University of Kentucky
Cheerleading Office
Jomo Thompson, Head Coach
16EE Memorial Coliseum
Lexington, KY 40506-0019
Phone: (859) 257-1027
Fax: (859) 323-3632
E-mail: ukcheer@uky.edu

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