At this year’s homecoming, the Trojans will commemorate 115 years of the USC Spirit Leaders, a unique group that has evolved from the all-male yell leaders who initially rallied the student section at USC sporting events.
The Spirit Leaders were notoriously all male until 2006 when a co-ed team of students took the field with tumbling passes and partner stunts. With their megaphones, they rallied the crowd at games. They created a new team name, the USC Spirit Leaders, and it has been with the program ever since. This group’s transition marked a significant shift in the program’s history.
Through the years, the Spirit Leaders have taken different approaches to what a Leader should perform. The team eventually replaced stunting with more dancing. They still carried the traditional megaphone but incorporated stunts within dance choreography. As the Spirit Leaders experienced some coaching changes, they have currently moved into a much more collegiate cheerleading style.
“We’ve changed drastically from year to year with the tumbling that we’ve done and the stunts that we’ve done. This year has probably been the most talent we’ve had on the team since I can remember,” Grant K., fourth-year Spirit Leader, said. “We have so much great talent coming in from the freshman side, from people who are even just at USC and see Spirit Leaders who are interested. We’re definitely on an upward trajectory and I don’t think we’re coming down anytime soon.”
This year’s roster contains high-level and experienced athletes who have competed at the most prestigious cheerleading competitions. Some team members have competed at The Cheerleading Worlds, National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) National Championships, Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) Collegiate Nationals, and other prestigious events. This year’s USC Spirit Leaders have trained immensely to make it to this point.
“I’ve been cheerleading all my life,” veteran Samia S. said. “This was just kind of the perfect mix to continue growing as a cheerleader.”
“There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. I have been cheering for around 10 years, and we do a lot. We train, and it’s a lot on our bodies, but it’s all worth it. We work hard and love to bring spirit to the university.” junior Spirit Leader Malieya P. said.
To continue the growth of the team’s existing talents and skills in a safe manner, they attended UCA Cheer Camp at UCSB. Senior Spirit Leader, Logan L. said, “This is the first year we went to UCA camp, and we got to train alongside a bunch of other cheer teams from all different conferences, and we had a great time there.”
As first-time attendees of UCA Camp, they worked alongside other collegiate teams to enhance their technique, learn new challenging skills, and develop a cohesive team. They concluded camp with multiple blue ribbons and 2nd place for Timeout Routine, 2nd place Overall, and the 2024 College Spirit Camp Leadership Award.
As the Spirit Leaders enter full swing into their season, advisor Bria Biggs and coach Jenn Albeanu focus on the team’s physical development, ensuring they are conditioned and making proper progressions to improve their stunting and tumbling skills. With over 45 routines choreographed and learned throughout the summer, the USC Spirit Leaders are taking the collegiate cheerleading industry by storm.
“We decided to take the team to UCA camp this year so that they could be around other cheerleading teams that they could look up to and be inspired by and also gain the confidence that they need to know that they are just as talented and capable of being a great collegiate cheerleading team,” advisor Bria Biggs, said. “It was a chance for us to bond as a team and get to know each other on a closer level before we joined the rest of the Trojan Marching Band and Song for Band camp. It is a way to learn new skills in a safe environment and it was even great for our advisor/coaches who attend UCA’s coaches seminars and meet other coaches/advisors/directors of cheerleading and spirit programs from across the country.”
The leadership of the band and Student Life work tirelessly to provide the athletes of Spirit tools and resources to give them the platform to grow as a team and to display elite stunt and tumbling skills and an overall eye-catching fan experience. You can catch the USC Spirit Leaders in their cardinal uniforms and white poms at sporting events, rallies, and events around campus, fostering positive school spirit and good sportsmanship.