Netflix’s Cheer: 10 Things To Know About Navarro College Bulldogs’ Cheer Team

The docuseries Cheer has taken over Netflix and introduced Navarro College’s nationally-ranked cheerleading squad in the small town of Corsicana, Texas. Cheer does a wonderful job of shedding light on the competitive cheerleading world while also touching base on key athletes on the squad.

Since season 2 was recently released — showing a whole new side to Navarro’s newfound stardom — viewers are comparing both seasons, while also learning more about the small-town school. And while the series did a great job of showing Navarro’s cheer squad, there are still some things that viewers don’t know about the school and its team.

They’ve Won 14 Championships

Monica Aldama is one of the most inspiring coaches on TV right now. After she became the squad’s head coach, the junior college has brought home a plethora titles and championships.

According to Navarro College: “Monica Aldama has brought Navarro College 14 National Cheer Association Junior College Division National Championships and five Grand National Titles in competition.” As viewers know, the team did not come in first at Daytona in 2021, but they’re hoping for the title in 2022.

Yes, These Student-Athletes Go To Class

Although the docuseries dives into the team’s personal lives at home and their relationships with each other, it doesn’t really dissect the balance between the gym and the classroom. As a junior college (NCJAA), these student-athletes have to attend class to be able to be on the team.

According to the NJCAA, student-athletes have to be full-time students to be able to compete. Without the passing grades, the cheerleaders wouldn’t be able to be on the team or transfer to a different university later.

Tryouts Aren’t As Intimidating As Viewers Think

The coaches noted that there were around 40 athletes on the team and that 20 of those athletes get to compete at Daytona. With Navarro being such an important college for cheerleading, tryouts can be intimidating.

According to Navarro College, tryouts run from November through March. In an interview with Netflix, Coach Monica said, “We try to keep it as least intimidating as possible. You mess up, go again — it’s not that big of a deal, and we encourage them through that.” She continued saying “And if you aren’t happy with your tryout or maybe you gain some new skills between the first clinic and the last, you could always try out again and come back.“

Coach Monica Has Been Head Coach For Over A Decade

Viewers and cheerleaders flock to Monica because of her coaching style and wonderful personality throughout Cheer. Monica is both laid back and strict; a mother figure and a role model. She expects her athletes to be coachable and try their best at every practice.

According to Texas Exes, Monica has been the head coach for Navarro since 1995. She believed being the head coach would be a “stepping stone” for better things outside of her corporate job. And thanks to the Netflix series, she made the right decision.

There Are Over 30 Cheerleaders On The Main Roster

Although Monica said there are around 40 cheerleaders on the roaster for Navarro, the school’s website notes 32 active cheerleaders on their roster.

Most of the cheerleaders in season 1 of Cheer have moved on from Navarro, which invites a new wave to prove themselves. With so much athleticism and passion, Cheer puts all those Disney cheerleading movies to shame for their inauthenticity.

The Bulldogs Have Decorated Athletes

Gabi Butler was one of Cheer’s stars because of her popularity in the cheerleading world. She became well-known for her flexibility and agility and was the face of popular brands and documentaries. She’s inspired many fans to watch other cheerleading movies and documentaries since watching the Netflix docuseries.

Due to Navarro’s fame, it made sense that Gabi and other decorated cheerleaders flocked there. Butler has since moved on from Navarro and now cheers at Weber State University in Utah.

The Team Also Cheers At Other Navarro Events

Cheer has become one of Netflix’s best original docuseries due to its authenticity and inside look at the competitive world of cheerleading. And while it wasn’t shown much in the series, the Navarro team doesn’t just perform at Daytona; they also cheer at other school sports.

According to Women’s Health Magazine, the team also cheers at football, basketball, and volleyball games as well.

Requirements To Be Considered

Fans who enjoyed The Playbook would love Cheer because it showcases the ins and outs of college athletics from the points of view of coaches and cheerleaders. To even be considered by Navarro, a cheerleader has to have some major skill.

Women’s Health Magazine noted that Navarro’s website stated cheerleaders have to at least know how to do “a standing back tuck and round-off back handspring back tuck.” The male cheerleaders also need to know how to “standing 2 to full or better” and “round-off back handsprings.” The more talent a cheerleader has, the more likely their chances are of being considered.

Navarro Attracts Cheerleaders From All Over The Country

With Navarro being a small college in a small town in Texas, cheerleaders come from all over America to cheer there. Monica even told Netflix that they had to get rid of the one-day tryout because there were so many cheerleaders in different states who couldn’t make it.

According to Navarro College, they have cheerleaders from California, Massachusetts, Missouri, Louisiana, Oregon, and more. The pull that Navarro has the country makes Cheer a top sports documentary series on Netflix.

It Takes A Village

Monica isn’t the only one running Navarro’s cheer program. On Cheer, she had the help of an assistant coach and former cheerleader, Andy Cosferent. Andy was noticeably missing in the back half of Cheer‘s second season and was replaced by another former cheerleader, Kailee Peppers.

On the 2021-2022 roster, Monica has a new assistant coach, Dustin Velazquez. Navarro also has the help of choreographers to make sure their routine is the best it can be. The routine shown in this competition was spectacular and really made them stand out from their rival.

About The Author

Lynn Gibbs
(1645 Articles Published)

Lynn is a nomad who travels the globe on the hunt for her next adventure with her husband. A lover of being outside (and finding the best latte in town), Lynn is typically hiking, walking, or jogging when she’s not focusing on her love of writing. When it comes to shows streaming on Netflix or anything Bravo-related, Lynn’s your gal.

More From Lynn Gibbs