Cheerleading is not always about pom poms and stunts – it can also be about bringing girls together who do not all have a traditional cheer background.

The Storm at the University of South Carolina was created in February and has become the school’s first stomp-and-shake team. 

Sophomore Tiana Almond is one of the founders and captains of the team. Almond always wanted to cheer during college but did not want to do traditional cheering.

“USC had a more traditional cheer, and I came from a stomp-and-shake background, so I decided I wanted to bring that culture to USC,” Almond said.

The team is coached by Hakeem “Tre” Brown and Alexis “Lex” Adams. The girls they coach each have different personalities and come from different cheer backgrounds, Adams said.

The girls are able to build themselves up while learning, and Adams said it is a learning process for her, too. She has been coaching for more than 20 years and said it’s more than cheerleading.

“I’m here to build their confidence and make them not just better cheerleaders, but better individuals,” Adams said. “So I look at it as being a good role model.”

Almond sought out freshman Anaiya Mack when starting the team. Mack came from a traditional cheer background and said doing a stomp-and-shake team has always been a dream.

The team hosted an event recently with an audience entry fee that helped them raise money while watching people enjoy their style of cheering.

“The girls that I’ve met, and the bonds that I’ve been able to grow really will mean something to me years down the line, while also being able to give back to my community,” Mack said.