UK's cheerleaders have won more National College Cheerleading Championships than any other Division 1-A school.

The UK squad has won UCA’s National College Cheerleading Championship an unprecedented 11 times, in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 -- more than any other Division 1-A school.

UK’s squad is the only team to win back to back championships twice, once in 1987 and 1988 and again in 1995 and 1996.  Further UK is the only squad ever to win three, four, five, six, and now seven championships in a row.

The most recent victory was Jan. 13 in competition in Orlando, Fla.

The UK Cheer Program is recognized in cheerleading circles as perhaps the finest cheer program in America as the squad has placed first eleven times and placed second four times in the National Championships.  The squad also generates vocal support and significant enthusiasm for some of the finest athletic programs in the nation.  The Wildcat basketball team is the winningest college basketball program in the nation and has won the NCAA National Championship two out of the last five years and seven times over all!  In December 1999, the Wildcat football team made it second consecutive bowl appearance.

UK's cheerleaders receive substantial media exposure.  Having finished in the top ten every year since the existence of the UCA National College Championships, each year the UK squad is seen on the ESPN-televised Championships Program, which airs at least eight time nationally.  In addition, the UK squad is seen on television as every UK basketball game is televised; a national or regional audience sees the majority of games. 

The squad is frequently the subject of highlight stories by television and radio stations and newspapers.  The squad has been featured on the “CBS Evening News,” Connie Chung’s “Eye to Eye,” and the “CBS Morning Show”, in “Southern Living” and “Gentlemen’s Quarterly,”  “ESPN the Magazine,” and “Seventeen” magazines.   The cheerleaders regularly attend University Athletics Association and Alumni Association functions.  They represent the University at many charitable and public relations’ events.  The cheerleaders have performed at the half-time of the Nuggets (coached by UK graduate, Dan Issel) and the Miami Heat (coached by UK graduate, Pat Riley) game and then appeared at the Denver-UK Alumni Club function.

On the UK campus, UK cheerleaders are recognized as some of the finest athletes in the University’s sports programs, as intelligent and out going students in the classroom, and as public relations ambassadors of the University of Kentucky and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The members of the 2000-2001 University of Kentucky Blue Squad are:

Rachael Brown, Greenup, Ky.
Michael Clark,  Valley Center, Calif.
Brandy Compton-Preston,  Louisa, Ky.
Keith Hodgson, Tampa, Fla.
Brooke Johnson, Corbin, Ky.
Josh Jones, Bosier City, La.
Ricardo Jones, Atlanta, Ga.
Justin Keogh, Glendale Heights, Ill.
Lauren Leake, Lexington, Ky.
Jennifer Long, Shreve, Ohio
Jon Love, Lexington, Ky.
Angela McAfee, Jacksboro, Tenn.
David McDowell, Jacksonville, Fla.
Cassie Napier, Fort Gay, W.Va.
Justin Nissley, Napierville, Ill.
Cliff Reece, Dallas, Ga.
Elizabeth Risner, Evansville, Ind.
Justin Rubin, Miami, Fla.
Kristi Vaughn, Flower Mount, Texas
Jennifer Walker, Lexington, Ky.

The trainer is Amanda Masten, who came to UK from Dublin, Ohio.  The coach is Saleem Habash of Lexington.  The advisor is T. Lynn Williamson of Lexington.