At Trinity Valley Community
College's Homecoming in Athens October 12th and 13th, 65
years of Cardinal Cheerleading will be celebrated. With one of the top
cheerleading programs in the nation, along with national and International
Championships, the college has plenty to celebrate.
The first Cardinal Cheerleading
Team was established in 1947 as an informal group. But it wasn't until
1965 when Connie C.J. Russell took over as coach that the team began its climb
to national recognition. Under her coaching, the Cardinal Cheerleaders
won five National and two International titles. To date the teams have
won nine National Titles.
C.J. Russell retired in 1997.
She is now one of the most sought after cheerleading judges on the
international scene and keeps In touch with her hundreds of former students on
Facebook.
See her story on Proud of East Texas,
Sunday 10/7 on East Texas News at Ten on channels 7 and 9.
