World Shocked! Nebraska Cornhuskers Cheerleaders Crowned #1 — From Small-Town Spirit to Global Glory
In a jaw-dropping moment that no one saw coming, the Nebraska Cornhuskers cheerleading team has rocketed to the pinnacle of international acclaim, being officially crowned the #1 cheer squad in the world. The announcement came during the 2025 Global Cheer & Performance Summit in Tokyo, Japan, where over 60 of the world’s top-ranked collegiate and professional teams competed in a high-stakes, all-out showcase of athleticism, creativity, and crowd-rattling spirit.
For many, Nebraska is known for its sprawling cornfields, die-hard football fans, and warm-hearted Midwestern values—but few could have predicted that a team rooted in Lincoln would defeat legendary squads from places like Texas, California, and even international powerhouses from Japan and South Korea. Yet here they were, draped in red and white, accepting the golden megaphone trophy before a stunned global audience.
“This is more than just a win for our school,” said team captain Kayla Jenkins, a senior kinesiology major from Kearney. “It’s a win for every small-town kid who ever dreamed of flying higher than the world expected.”
The rise of the Cornhuskers cheer team didn’t happen overnight. Under the leadership of Coach Brianna Steele—herself a former Olympic gymnast turned choreographer—the squad has spent the last four years redefining what cheerleading looks like in the Big Ten. Blending traditional stunts with avant-garde formations, emotionally resonant storytelling, and jaw-dropping athletic feats, Steele’s vision has turned the team into a sensation.
Their award-winning routine, titled Heartland to Heroics, featured a cinematic journey through Nebraska’s cultural and historical identity—complete with a tribute to Indigenous roots, 1930s Dust Bowl resilience, and modern-day unity. It wasn’t just technically flawless; it was powerful, poignant, and pulsed with emotion. From three-level pyramids executed mid-tumble to a mid-air letter formation spelling “UNITY,” the performance left judges speechless.
International judge and former world champion cheerleader Aiko Nakamura called it “a moment of pure perfection, a routine that transcended geography and sport.”
But the team’s impact goes beyond acrobatics. The Cornhuskers cheerleaders have also launched community empowerment projects, including Cheer for Change, a program that brings cheer clinics and confidence-building workshops to underserved rural schools across the Midwest.
“In an era when cheer is often dismissed as decoration, Nebraska has proven it is a discipline of strength, storytelling, and soul,” said ESPN’s cheer analyst, Derek Munroe.
The team is now the subject of an upcoming Netflix docuseries, Cornhuskers: Spirit of a Nation, which follows their journey from the practice gym to the global stage. Hollywood is calling, endorsements are flooding in, and a bronze statue of the team’s iconic pyramid is reportedly being considered in front of Memorial Stadium.
From cornfields to center stage, the Nebraska Cornhuskers cheerleading team has flipped the script on what the world thought possible—and in doing so, has inspired a generation.
