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Original Wheaties boxes, 1970s.
The Wheaties Boxes Cheerleaders' Gift to Motivate Players
The Wheaties Boxes Cheerleaders' Gift to Motivate Players
Donor: Father Bob Rottgers
Author: Alivia Adkins, class of 2026, Alecia Cogsville, and Maisy Wilson, class of 2028
Story Contributors: Melody Thompson, class of 1972, Ellen Graves Turner, Jane Graves Petracco, Karen Smith Orrender, & Linda Thompson Stewart, class of 1974, Father Bob Rottgers, class of 1975, Rudi Wilson, class of 2025
Web Page Designer: Jade Farley, Class of 2027
HHS cheerleaders, 1970s.
Teenage girls in the early seventies had long, straight hair, mini-skirts, bell-bottom jeans, and a layered-look. Their styles reflected their culture and were different from ours. Time has major effects on trends, which come and go, but traditions remain relatively unchanged. A memorable Highlands High School artifact is Wheaties cereal boxes. These personally decorated “Breakfast of Champions” cereal boxes convey messages to the Highlands football players to play hard and work as a team, when facing their opponent of the week. The boxes also represent the backing of the cheerleaders.
In the early 1970s, Highlands custom was for the cheerleaders to decorate single-serve Wheaties boxes to fit the theme of the upcoming football games. The night before a big game, the Highlands cheerleaders would hand deliver this “Breakfast of Champions” to the football players at their homes and perform a short cheer right there in the front yard upon delivery.
“We took turns creating the poems. If it was against the Covington Catholic Colonels, it was all about popping the kernels. During the evening, we would get together and hand write that poem or jingle on the side of the Wheaties boxes,” shared Karen Smith Orrender, former Highlands cheerleader (class of 1974).
Original 1970s Wheaties boxes
“On the first game of the season (when there were 65 guys on the team), we would hand deliver a Wheaties box to every single player; so 7 girls would have to come up with 65 different notes to glue on the boxes. It was labor intensive…” Orrender laughs. “And we couldn't order them or Xerox (photocopy) them.” After that, for the rest of the season, just the seniors and starters received these boxes.
These Wheaties Boxes helped strengthen the bond between the football players and the cheerleaders. The girls had the best time making these boxes and the players loved them. The cheerleaders were very enthusiastic and worked hard to make them. The creation process took time, patience, collaboration, and dedication.
HHS football team, 1975.
“It was awesome to receive them,” Former football player, Father Bob Rottgers (class of 1975), said. “Cheerleaders prepared them for the night before every game mainly for the starters, but a couple of times for the whole team. Then 4-5 cheerleaders would deliver them to your door and would do cheers in your yard.” Cheerleading and football were one of the main activities at Highlands so these games and sportsmanship were significant to the Bluebirds.
Bob Rottgers, class of 1974 football photo
HHS cheerleaders, 1970s.
During this time in history, girls didn't participate in KHSAA sports, like the boys were. The cheerleading squad allowed for a place where girls could feel united and be a part of something big.
“We played GAA volleyball. It wasn't competitive. We also went bowling. The girls' teams weren't as well developed.” Ellen Graves Turner, former Highlands cheerleader (class of 1974) reminisces. Even though Highlands girls’ sports weren’t as thoroughly developed as today, there were still many opportunities to socialize.
Highlands still has the spirit and enthusiasm it used to have; however our traditions have evolved to fit our needs. Our cheerleaders and football players still have similar traditions. For example, gauntlets still take place before games at Highlands.
“Every week the cheer team gets together for about two hours to make the banner,” said Rudi Wilson, present Highlands Cheerleader (class of 2025), “Then on game days we hold it up for the football players to run through. I think this gets the football players more excited for the game.”
The cheerleaders and football players also enjoyed this tradition in the 1970s; however, their weekly routine for the gauntlet was a little different.
HHS football team,1974.
“We would get together ahead of time to make the banner. Then, at game time, the band would form a gauntlet. We excitedly ran the gauntlet ahead of the football players, who broke through the banner, and crossed the field, close behind,” recalled former cheerleaders Linda Thompson Stewart (’74) and her sister, Melody Thompson (’72).
Currently, the cheerleaders help make the banner but hold it for the players to run through. But still, the gauntlet is a tradition for Friday Night Lights. Highlands still values our traditions today as much as we did during the past. Cheerleaders were a key part of showing this value, especially with the Wheaties Box tradition.
Cheerleaders had the opportunity to show the school that they were proud to be on the team. It also helped them be excited about cheerleading (which was completely focused on supporting the football and basketball team), and their enthusiasm helped the student athletes get excited about their own sport.
“Wheaties boxes were creative and unique and would cheer people up during hard times,” Father Bob Rottgers expressed. “When community is tight, there is always a bond.”
The cheerleaders spoke very fondly of these times and everyone believed that this ritual showed how devoted the school was to sharing our school spirit and pride. Even Coach Mike Murphy (HHS head football coach) and his wife, Kay, joined in by supporting and encouraging the cheerleaders. On Thursday nights, after delivering all the Wheaties boxes, the cheerleaders were often invited to the Murphy’s house for snacks, stories and laughs. Coach Murphy and Kay would laugh along with the chatty cheerleaders as they shared funny stories about delivering the Wheaties and other teenage shenanigans.
Former cheerleader Jane Graves Petracco said, “Cheerleading was all about supporting the teams and other students.” Supporting each other during important challenging times or even just when you need support, is very important for Highlands. The cheerleaders would work very hard to accomplish Highland's value of spirit and pride.
In conclusion, these Wheaties boxes showed more than just arts-and-crafts skills. They symbolize how Highlands students dedicated their time to supporting each other and reminding their peers that they were looking out for and advocating for each other.
“It was nice to get the recognition. Especially from ambassadors of the school. It was nice.” Rottgers concluded. “All of the groups would all help each other out: drama club, football team, and cheerleaders. The community built us up.”
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