We've Got Spirit : The Life and Times of America's Greatest Cheerleading Team

by James T. McElroy

"Let's Hear It for the Cheerleaders," The New York Times recently proclaimed, and in We've Got Spirit, James T. McElroy answers the call, revealing the thrilling drama of ambition, heartbreak, and triumph that is a year in the life of America's greatest cheerleading team. Today's competitive cheerleading is intense, athletic, and even dangerous -- a sport in its own right that combines the acrobatic grace of gymnastics, the energized dance of ice skating, and the all-American good looks of a beauty pageant. "Cheerleading is hotter than ever," reports The Wall Street Journal on what is far and away the most popular girls' sport in America, with over three-and-a-half million participants. Thousands of high school teams across the nation practice year-round with hopes of becoming national champions, but only Kentucky's Greenup County Musketeers have won eight titles and are perennial contenders to take the top honors. Team members in the green and gold are adored throughout the country for being pretty, polite, sweet, and sexy -- but what Greenup's rivals strive to emulate is the fierce athleticism and competitive spirit that make Greenup the team to beat. We've Got Spirit opens with the 1997 National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Florida, where Greenup County brilliantly reclaims its title. The crowd roars as all nineteen girls simultaneously perform their trademark standing back tuck, and the team is crowned champion once again. Coach Candy Berry is the amazing motivator behind the Greenup cheerleading dynasty, a female incarnation of Vince Lombardi who can mold almost any group of girls into champions. With veteran team leader Shawnda Bates graduated and cheering for the University of Louisville, Berry has high hopes for the young talent on the 1998 squad. Linda Goble has top-notch gymnastics skills and valuable competition experience, but distractions mount when she gets caught up in a bitter custody battle. Vivacious and spirited Rachel Brown has dreamed of cheering for Greenup County since preschool, but confidence problems keep her a heartbeat away from achieving the perfection she strives for. Self-taught tumbler Rachel Wills seems like a natural to follow in Shawnda's footsteps, but as the 1998 nationals approach, Greenup County's remarkable reign at the top is threatened by obstacles even the most gifted leader never could have anticipated -- season-ending injuries, infighting, an unplanned pregnancy, and even a show-stopping blizzard. Revealing the backstage conflicts competitive cheerleaders face, and the ambition that drives these "sports heroes with ponytails," McElroy tells stories of astonishing achievement and wasted talent, teamwork and courage, and what it means to be an

336 pages, Hardcover

First published February 17, 1999

Reviews

[Barbara Scaff · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only people who read this book are folks from Greenup, those who love cheerleading, or those who love the Greenup County Cheerleaders....so it's shocking the author chooses to take a big 💩 on his small audience.

EX-PLOI-TATION 👏👏👏👏👏

These were KIDS. I know I'm biased because I absolutely adore these girls, but you were talking about KIDS like this. IDK, man....just gross.

I only hope the author gave back to the community he mocked or the girls he exploited, but as a lifelong Greenup County resident and a fan of all those girls...I know he came, he lurked, he judged, and then he left.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book. I have read and loved In These Girls Hope is a Muscle and Counting Coup which are very similar in structure, as they follow a team through a season's worth of ups, downs and drama. So I was excited to read this book. I tend to think the whole world of competitive cheerleading is a little silly, but the author really makes us care about the girls and their coaches, by allowing us into their lives, many of which are deprived and sad, with cheerleading providing a much needed escape. I found myself at the edge of my seat as their competitions were related in grest detail.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels like a documentary. It goes through a year with a competitive cheerleading team following many of the girls making lifelong decisions. I was skeptical about reading this book but when I saw my friend Heather's review I thought that I would give it a try. This book hooked me in and didn't let go until I was finished. It was fascinating. If you are looking for an interesting, quick read, non-fiction look no further!

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*read during my cheerleading days & knew some of these girls so it was an interesting read on how sad some their lives were...and being the best cheerleaders around! (if you were ever apart of that competitive cheerleading crowd you know the draw this book would have)

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chearleader's aren't my thing, but I read this out loud to my family, and we couldn't put it down. The writting is so compelling, in fact I've had this book used as an example of how to write good non-fiction in a college course. You'll never look at pom-poms the same again.