A gentleman by the name of Lawrence Herkimer, who had cheered at Southern Methodist University, returned from war and came back to his Alma matter to coach gymnastics and work with the cheerleaders. ... Herkimer added more gymnastics into the NCA's curriculum, which drew more men. ... "In the 1980's, gymnastics found itself in hot water. ... Fueled by stories of poor coaching and insurance concerns, the demise of gymnastics programs at the high school level led to the growth of cheerleading. Many gyms changed their focus away from gymnastics and into acrobatics for cheerleading routin...

• Word Count: 2670
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate