University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Team name: UW-Whitewater Cheer
Division: D3 College Coed
Location: Whitewater, WI
Coaches: Breanna Schaefer, Molly Buchanan, Nevaeha Tarver, Reagan Kelly
Season focus: Continuing strides made last season to compete again after 4 years out of the game.
The University of Wisconsin Whitewater's Cheerleading Program contains two teams, each consisting of twelve coed athletes. The Purple Squad is responsible for cheering at the university's home and away Men's Football and Basketball games, and the White Squad is responsible for home Men's Football games and home and away Women's Basketball games.
To outsiders, this program may appear as a regular cheerleading squad. However, this program is bound together through collaboration, dedication, and passion. Although the Program is managed by the university's Spirit Program, the individual teams are coached entirely by student athletes. This is a unique aspect of the program that evokes collaboration and dedication. Not only are these specific athletes challenged by their sport, but they are also challenged to be leaders for their peers. It requires a lot of patience and dedication to be a student athlete, and a coach of the same program, simultaneously.
This program works hard to raise money to be able to support themselves and to continue doing what they love. During the 2025-26 academic year, athletes of the Cheer and Stunt Program coordinated a fundraiser and raised enough funds to allow them to revive the competition team, which had been inactive for a few years. The competition team, formed by athletes of the Purple and White Squads, competed in the 2026 WACPC Cheerleading State Competition and received third place.
This program, consisting of sideline and competitive cheerleading is an incredible example of pure passion and dedication to your sport. This program instills values in these athletes that can be carried through their careers, and their entire lives. These student athletes and their commitment to success is truly inspiring.