The University of South Carolina is gearing up for game day and looking forward to a successful competition season in the spring. It's only a few days until they open their season at Vanderbilt, and it looks like the cheer team will be more than ready for the sidelines!



In total, the USC cheerleading program features 65 athletes between the large coed and all girl squad. Eighteen seniors returned to the teams this year, so the rookies and freshman are led by seasoned athletes who know how to cheer their team on USC style.

Aside from their game-day skills, South Carolina is also a primary competitor at NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida, every April. In 2016, the all girl team placed third, and the coed team secured a solid fourth-place finish in finals. Division 1A is one of the toughest, but the teams are looking to feature even more difficulty in 2017.

Our goal is to be the best version of ourselves that we can be! On the mat, we are focused on raising our scores higher with more difficulty through progressions and increased concentration on the mental preparation in addition to the physical conditioning. Off the mat, our goal is to continue to enjoy cheering for the Gamecocks and visiting every chance we get with fans of Gamecock Nation! We love our Gamecocks! - Erika Goodwin, USC Head Coach

A well-rounded program is the key to success for cheer teams, and that's why the Gamecocks have been making waves in recent cheer news. Follow them through their season @GamecockCheer on Twitter.

Team Breakdowns:

Large Coed: 28 members
14 females
14 males

All Girl: 37 members