We all know how important numbers are in cheerleading – the score, the stunt count and the right to the infamous #1 position.

So, here is a brief history of cheerleading, by the numbers:

100+
Cheerleading as an organized group has been around for over 100 years.

14
New Jersey has more than the shore! The first official cheer was performed in New Jersey at the University of Princeton in 1884. It wasn’t until 14 years later, in 1898 at the University of Minnesota, that cheer was performed as an organized group activity, directed by Johnny Campbell.

3
The University of Minnesota had reportedly lost 3 games in a row during the 1898 season, and the school was desperate and anxious for a wining solution. This is what inspired Johnny Campbell to lead the school’s fans in cheering at games.

11
The score of the football game that featured Johnny Campbell’s first ‘yell team’ was 17-6, with Minnesota beating Northwestern by 11 points.

6
After the success and inspiration of Johnny Campbell’s performance, he decided to form the first ‘yell team’, which consisted of himself and 5 other male students.

2
Women did not join the cheerleading movement until 40 years after its introduction at the University of Minnesota. It was another 20 before they began to dominate it, filling the positions left on squads by men who joined the military and left to fight in World War II. Once women began to influence the activity more, it started to incorporate more gymnastics, stunting and tumbling.

52
Lawrence “Herkie” Herkimer introduced the first cheerleading camp, then known as a clinic, in 1948. He held the clinic at the Sam Houston State Teacher’s College (now called the Sam Houston State University), and 52 girls attended. Lawrence also invented the Herkie jump, the spirit stick and cheerleading pom poms.

30+
ESPN has been broadcasting and syndicating cheerleading performances and competitions since the 1980s.

1.5
It is estimated that there are 1.5 million all-star cheerleaders in the United States today.

97
Though originally an all male activity, today’s cheerleading population is 97% female.

50
While cheerleading is typically thought of as a female dominated sport, the population of male cheerleaders at the college level is still 50%.