Fuller added that last year's setback occurred when the cheerleading team had finally begun to establish itself.

"In the last two years, we've gone through a huge overhaul," she said. "Alumni have started to give money, and we've been doing fundraising on our own and with the athletic department."

Fuller said cheerleaders had a hard time in the past convincing the Department of Athletics that they needed a coach and funding. Over the three weeks prior to the competition, she said, students practiced every day at 7 a.m. because the department did not provide them with space at another time.

But Fuller said there is a long tradition of cheerleading at Harvard, which includes former Crimson President Franklin D. Roosevelt '04 .

She said Harvard students tend to be ignorant of campus cheerleaders, despite the team's presence at basketball and football games.

"The biggest reaction is that [students] are really surprised we even have cheerleaders," she said.

Hammond said he joined the cheerleading team because he wanted to contribute to school spirit.

"I wasn't good enough to be a recruit for any sport, and cheerleading is the best way for me to give back and get involved," he said.