Competition updates!!

4/13/08 – The Harvard cheerleaders traveled to the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts to compete in the Minuteman Mass Challenge hosted by Spirit Cheer. The team placed 1st in the College Division beating both the University of Hartford and Suffolk University, and was also awarded Grand Champions for achieving the highest overall total score for all school and recreation teams! This competition wrapped up Harvard's inaugural competition season with two first place finishes and a Grand Champion title to boot. With this, Harvard again has proven itself to be a top contender in yet another sport, and the cheerleaders hope to continue their success next year both at the regional and National Level! The cheerleaders plan on putting together a Bid Tape for NCA College Nationals In Daytona, FL and hope to receive a bid to compete against the best in the country next Spring!

3/16/08 - The HArvard Cheerleading team kicked off its competition season at the Pot o' Gold Challenge hosted by the United Cheer Foundation, Inc. at the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, RI. The cheerleaders placed 1st in the College Co-Ed Division!

THE GAME

11/17/07 – The Harvard cheerleaders traveled with the football team down to Yale University for the 124th playing of The Game. The Crimson pounded the Bulldogs to the tune of 37-6 but the action did not stop with the whistle. At the start of halftime, one drunken Yalie boldly attempted to steal the Harvard Flag from the sidelines in front of the cheerleaders. He was quickly pursued by five Harvard Cheerleaders; Captains Amanda McCoy (’08) and Danielle Rutherford (’08) as well as Robbie Helbling (’11), Geoff Oberhofer (’10) and Lucas Toffoli (’09). The Yalie was gang tackled on the 20 yard line and the flag was swiftly taken from his grips while the males pinned him to the ground awaiting arrest. Captains McCoy and Rutherford quickly returned to the sidelines proudly waving the Harvard flag and showing the crowd yet again who the best team in the Ivy League truly is.

Lesson of the day: If you mess with the cheerleaders, be prepared to pay the price.

(note: both this Yalie and a second Yalie who attempted the same ploy in the 4th quarter in front of several event security and police officers (he failed to make it ten feet) were arrested and taken off the field in handcuffs.)

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ESPN.Com – November 19, 2007 http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=neumann/071119&sportCat=ncf

Boston Globe – Saturday November 17, 2007 – photograph - the cheerleaders are seen in action at the Harvard/Yale Pep Rally that took place Thursday night, November 15, 2007.

LA Times – November 18, 2007 - Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
“At halftime Saturday, a Yale fan ran onto the field and tried to swipe a giant Harvard flag. He was tackled and pummeled by the male and female cheerleaders -- cheerleaders! -- before security guards escorted him off the field.”

Harvard Crimson – November 17, 2007 – Live Blog – Brad Hinshelwood
“Halftime: A Yale student tries to take the Harvard flag, only to be caught and absolutely pummeled by several cheerleaders before security escorts him off.”

Old Media

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=429338 (1925) Harvard Cheerleading “competition” for males interesting in joining the team
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=214017 (1952) Harvard rules on use of Women as cheerleaders
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=352032 (1970) Radcliffe women take court cheering on Basketball team marking the first time in Harvard History that women were allowed to be cheerleaders – they were nicknamed “The Cliffies”
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=172270 (1982)
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=96076 (1999) Harvard Makes its competition debut and places 3rd at NCA Regionals