SPC Brings Stomp and Shake Cheer Style to San Antonio

Cheerleading has been part of St. Philip’s College since the 1950s. Now the program is highlighting a newer addition to its sidelines: stomp and shake, a rhythmic, chant-driven style that arrived on campus in 2023 under the leadership of Cheer Coach Zenobia Tucker.

“I felt like this was the perfect opportunity to introduce HBCU culture to the only HBCU in San Antonio,” Coach Zenobia said. “Just to give them a different vibe, a different feel when it comes to seeing cheerleaders, because we do see traditional cheerleading all over Texas.”

The cheer team at St. Philip’s College is an innovative spirit squad comprised of both high school and college students. The group has performed at San Antonio Spurs games, Fiesta events such as the college’s CultureFest & Rib Cook-Off, and other campus celebrations.

The Stomp and Shake cheer style emerged in the 1970s at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), in North Carolina and Virginia. The form blends elements of traditional cheer with stepping and dance, emphasizing synchronized stomps, sharp body shakes, and powerful vocal chants.

Unlike many contemporary cheer programs that center on tumbling and high-risk stunts, stomp and shake focuses on precision, musicality, and crowd connection. Performances are both visual and auditory, designed to drive energy in the stands while keeping attention on timing and voice.

“As a former collegiate cheerleader and coach, I’ve seen firsthand that cheerleading is far more than sidelines, spirit chants, stunts, and tumbling; it’s about building confidence, fostering teamwork, and creating a culture of positivity that extends well beyond game day,” said Vice President of Student Success Wesley B. Wells. “Cheerleaders motivate players when the pressure is high, engage fans with energy and pride, and represent our college with excellence in the community. At St. Philip’s College, cheerleading embodies the spirit of Tiger Nation by uniting us, inspiring us, and reminding us that every voice of encouragement has the power to lift a team, a campus, and a community.”

With more than seven decades of cheer tradition, the style aligns with the college’s history and identity while giving today’s students a distinctive way to express school spirit.

An archive photograph of cheerleaders from the 1952 St. Philip’s College yearbook.

An archive photograph from 1972 shows five St. Philip’s College cheerleaders representing school spirit.