Kansas University is setting up for an exciting cheerleading season. Cheer Channel caught up with Corey Stone, head coach for KU's Cheerleading Team. We started by asking Corey to tell us a little more about the team itself:
 
"We are an all-coed squad of approximately 15 couples. We're a bit unique in that we don't split the team into a varsity and JV squad. Instead we split the squad into two equally skilled 7-couple squads. Everyone cheers at all home football games, and we rotate squads for men's and women's basketball games.
 
"For star players:

• Jordan is a junior from Wichita majoring in pre-Pharmacy. She's a great pyramid top, has a pass full, and elite stunts and baskets, including the pike-open double-full that she just learned at camp. She cheered at the Cheer Eclipse All Star program. 
• Matt is Jordan's partner and is a junior from Mulvane, KS majoring in Engineering. He has pass fulls and elite stunts, including the back handspring full-up he learned at camp. 
• Emily is a senior from Denver majoring in Education. She's an incredible pyramid middle, has pass fulls, and elite baskets including the Arabian double-full she learned at camp. 
• Sydney is a junior from Tulsa majoring in pre-Med. She has been an excellent pyramid middle for us her first two years, but this year she's topping pyramids and doing great. She has pass fulls and elite stunts."

The team just returned from a UCA College Spirit Camp in Milwaukee, WI. Camps are tiring, with long hours of classes and practice, but Corey told us it was a bonding experience for the team. The results of their teamwork are clear: in addition to taking the leadership award by popular vote, they won the Sideline Competition and came in second in Cheer, all while improving their stunt work and crowd interaction skills.
 
A lot of fresh faces have joined the team. "Last year we lost quite a few guys, so our newer guys had to step up, and they really did!" said Corey. Even so, the team went on to finish 5th in the UCA Championships. With 9 out of 15 women new to the team this year, will they reach same heights as last year? Corey says, "We're hoping for another top-5 finish."
 
Every cheerleader receives a $325 scholarship. At tryouts, the team favors the well-rounded: "someone who can coed stunt, tumble, cheer games energetically, and be a good representative of KU!" KU's cheerleaders are certainly representing their school with spirit so far this year! Thanks to Corey Stone for taking time out of a busy pre-season to talk with us. Cheer Channel looks forward to hearing more from this team in the coming season. You can follow KU Cheer on Facebook or their homepage.