Although both male and female students were listed as College Cheer Leaders in early Bridgewater College yearbooks, cheerleading appears to have organized as an athletic team activity at the College around 1939. The first photograph of a cheerleading squad appears in the 1940s Ripples. This team was co-ed and was appointed by the BC Athletic Council.
Organized student cheering sections sometimes joined the cheerleaders in raising school spirit at games. The female Fighting Eagles formed in the 1940s. In the mid-1980s, the College had a co-ed Zoo Crew spirit section.
Bridgewater College cheerleading teams varied over the years between all female membership and co-educational membership. There were also separate cheerleading teams for football and basketball.
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