Cheerleading is headed for varsity status in Ohio

by Judy Stringer

A persistent question has echoed through Ohio high school hallways for decades: Is cheerleading truly a sport?

Earlier this year, the Ohio High School Athletic Association and the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators provided a definitive answer. A landmark partnership between the two organizations has launched competitive cheer on a direct track to become a legitimate varsity sport by the 2027–2028 school year.

OASSA Director of Cheer and Dance Trisha Hart said the move is a long-overdue validation for the work thousands of Ohio athletes have been doing for years.

“It’s finally giving recognition to those competitive [cheerleaders] who have been competing with us for over 30 years,” Hart said.

Cheerleading is following the exact legislative path used by sports like lacrosse to gain OHSAA recognition. This includes the establishment of formal bylaws, a constitution and a dedicated coaches association that will lead the decision-making process for the sport’s future.

As a sanctioned sport, cheerleading will offer expanded participation opportunities and better access to funding, resources and athletic support services. Perhaps most importantly, it aligns Ohio with the growing national collegiate landscape, Hart said.

“Stunt sport is an NCAA women’s sport now, D1 through D3,” Hart noted, adding that more colleges will now look toward Ohio for recruitment and scholarship opportunities.

Hart explained that unlike some states that only recognize one style of cheer, Ohio plans to maintain all current categories, including both Game Day and Traditional. The state also will continue to offer subcategories for “building” (stunting and tossing) and “non-building” to accommodate schools that may not yet have the safety approvals or training to perform aerial stunts.

Beyond conference

Despite the momentum toward state-sanctioned status – potentially as early as the 2027-2028 school year – the transition presents unique logistical hurdles for multi-sport athletes. Currently, many competitive cheer events are held in mid-winter, creating conflict for students who participate in other varsity sports.

However, the OHSAA and OASSA are already working to address these concerns. Hart noted that beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the “Game Day” category will move to the fall to better align with the football season. This shift is designed to expand state competition participation. Schools like Brecksville-Broadview Heights and Copley, she said, have historically been “one-and-done” programs, finishing their competitive season after their league event in November.

Path to championship

Some area programs are already making the jump. Highland High School recently clinched a fourth-place “Game Day Building” state finish in its first-ever competitive season. Head varsity coach Laura Keeling said challenging perennial state powerhouses like Steubenville and Kings high schools will require her cheerleaders to drill down on OASSA’s technical and performance-based criteria, such as synchronization and crown-leading, ahead of the Game Day shift to fall.

Still, she hopes they can pause to appreciate that they aren’t just practicing for a trophy – they are living through a piece of history.

“It’s a milestone for the sport in Ohio and a transformational moment for current and future athletes,” Keeling said.