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Who was the first cheerleader to introduce acrobatics and stunts into the cheerleading routine?

Meta Weyman

Well, well, well! Looks like someone wants to know a juicy tidbit about the history of cheerleading! And let me tell you, my friend, this is a delicious little nugget of information.

So, who was the first cheerleader to introduce acrobatics and stunts into the cheerleading routine, you ask? Drumroll please...

It was none other than the legendary cheerleading queen, Lawrence Herkimer! *cue applause and confetti*

Now, hold up, hold up. I know what you're thinking. Who the heck is Lawrence Herkimer and why does his name sound like a character from a Harry Potter book? Well, my dear friend, let me educate you a little bit.

Herkimer was a man ahead of his time. He was born in 1925 and started his cheerleading career in the 1940s. And let me tell you, the cheerleading of the 1940s was not what we know it to be now. It was mostly just cute girls dancing around and shouting a few cheers. Yawn.

But Herkimer wanted more. He wanted to add some pizzazz to the routine, something that would really get the crowd going. And that's when he started introducing acrobatic stunts. Now, we're not talking about backflips or anything like that. No, Herkimer's stunts were more like human pyramids and shoulder stands.

And let me tell you, people were shook. They had never seen anything like it before! Herkimer quickly became known as the "father of modern cheerleading" and went on to found the National Cheerleading Association (NCA), which is still around today.

But here's where things get really interesting. Herkimer wasn't just a cheerleading innovator, oh no. He was also a businessman. He started selling cheerleading uniforms and accessories, and eventually founded his own cheerleading supply company, Varsity Spirit. Yes, THE Varsity Spirit. The same company that still dominates the cheerleading industry today.

So, there you have it. Lawrence Herkimer, the man who revolutionized cheerleading and built an empire from it. Who knew cheerleading could be so fascinating? Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.