Gracie McClendon, a senior majoring in movement sciences, has taken an active role in improving the University of Idaho’s Vandal Spirit Squad by focusing on injury prevention and athletic performance, according to a March 31 announcement. As team captain this year, McClendon used her academic background to implement strength training and biomechanics education for her teammates, aiming to reduce injuries during demanding cheerleading routines.
The issue is important because competitive cheerleading involves high-impact activities that can lead to frequent injuries. By applying her knowledge from movement sciences, McClendon worked to keep her teammates healthy while also preparing them for national competitions.
McClendon’s experience with injuries inspired her approach. “Both my parents worked in the medical field so I always kind of thought I would go into some kind of healthcare,” McClendon said. “I’ve always had an interest in health sciences. I like helping people stay healthy and active.” She became a certified personal trainer after the Fall ’25 semester and began teaching an Intro to Fitness class at the Student Recreation Center during Spring ’26, supported by a grant from the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Nutrition and Women’s Health.
Dawson Murphy, assistant coach for the Spirit Squad who recruited McClendon in 2024, said that competition had become a bigger focus for the team: “The cheerleaders have been doing a great job during athletic events, but we weren’t devoting a lot of time toward competitions,” Murphy said. “Now that we also focus on competitions, we’ve been pushing them a little harder — rewiring their brains to think about competitions as well as game day.” With increased training comes higher risk of injury; McClendon responded by tailoring workouts specific to cheerleading needs: “I’ve added a lot of things to our workouts specific to cheer, like exercises to strengthen ankles and wrists,” she said.
This new approach has contributed to recent successes. The squad won first place in the College Game Day Fight Song category at the 2026 USA Spirit Nationals and Collegiate Championships in Anaheim. Last year they were champions in other categories despite only four years competing nationally.
Joshua Bailey, associate professor at the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, praised McClendon’s influence: “Gracie has been able to connect the team’s activities to concepts in biomechanics and sports performance,” Bailey said. He added that injury risks faced by cheerleaders are comparable with those seen in traditional contact sports.
Murphy credited McClendon with raising both standards and morale: “I think the team is better for her having been here,” he said. Reflecting on her journey after being recruited from out-of-state programs she hadn’t previously considered attending herself, McClendon said: “I never would have thought about U of I but I’m so glad I made the right decision… I feel like I’ve definitely been set up for success.”
