In 1935 Northwest’s Cheerleaders were all men (Louis Groh, Virgil Yates, Verne Campbell). From Northwest Tower.

Background

In the 1930s, college cheerleading was dominated by men because it was considered a prestigious, athletic, and masculine leadership role rooted in early 20th-century campus culture. It was viewed as a “men’s club” requiring loud voices for crowd control and authority, with women largely excluded or limited to smaller, secondary roles until World War II. 

Key reasons for all-male squads in the 1930s included

Perceived: Masculinity: Cheerleading was seen as an extension of college sports like football or wrestling, demanding high energy and authority—traits deemed inherently masculine.

• Fraternal Tradition: Originating in the late 1800s, cheerleading was an “all-male activity” designed to show school spirit through a “men’s club” atmosphere, according to sociologist Laura Grindstaff in The Atlantic.
• Resistance to Women: Although women began joining in the 1920s, many schools maintained all-male teams in the 1930s. Opponents argued that female cheerleading was too masculine, causing women to develop “loud, raucous voices” and adopt inappropriate behaviors.
• The “War Effect”: The transition to female-dominated squads did not occur until World War II, when most men left for military service, creating a necessity for women to fill these roles.

1. Before WWII, cheerleading was a man’s job — they already had the cardio from running away from chemistry finals.
2. The “War effect”: men went to fight, women took over cheerleading — finally someone who could actually hold a pyramid and a baby at the same time.
3. Men did the cheering until WWII — turns out they were better at yelling “rah” while carrying eight textbooks.
4. Draft notice: “Report for duty.” Cheer squad tryouts: “Report for pom-pom duty.” Close enough.
5. Why did cheerleading flip during the war? Talent pool shrank, and the school mascot finally got a better wardrobe.
6. Before the war, male cheerleaders were a tradition. After the war, it was tradition plus better hair and tighter choreography.
7. WWII changed everything — suddenly “support the troops” included supporting halftime shows that actually had choreography.
8. Men were cheerleaders because someone had to wear the giant foam mascot head in comfort; women took over when the institutions ran out of spare heads.
9. The war gave women a chance to lead cheers — and men realized yelling “Defense!” wasn’t the same cardio as a double back-handspring.
10. Back then, being a college cheerleader meant you were the loudest guy on campus; after WWII, they decided loud and coordinated was better.
11. The draft moved a lot of men off campus; the remaining students upgraded the routine — fewer shoehorned stunts, more actual stunts.
12. WWII: When men were overseas fighting, women filled every role — including finally answering the age-old question, “Who’s been running the sideline choreography this whole time?”