The track is firm beneath sophomore Carmine Unga’s sneakers as he jogs into formation, back to the football field, eyes fixed on the crowd in the stands. To his left, the school band blares over the steady beat of drums while the crowd chatters away. He claps his hands to the rhythm and joins in as the cheer begins, his voice blending with the rest of the team. Feet stomp in unison as the energy spreads into the bleachers.

For a moment, the rush of spirit and teamwork drowns out everything — until it’s impossible to forget that he’s the only guy on the team.

For Unga, Palo Alto High School’s sole male cheerleader, every game is a mix of adrenaline and attention, the kind that comes with stepping into a role long seen as reserved for women.

“I joined mostly because of my friends and the environment,” Unga said. “They were the ones who really encouraged me, and I liked being around them.”

Cheer has traditionally been about building spirit and connection, but who makes up the teams has changed over time. Once an all-male activity, cheerleading became female-dominated after World War II, when many men left for military service and women stepped into the role, according to The Atlantic.

Today, the sport remains overwhelmingly associated with women, with male athletes making up less than 3% of all high school cheerleaders nationwide, Statista reports.

Regardless of these numbers, senior and varsity cheer captain Lasaides Voorhees said Unga has been a welcome addition to the team.

“Carmine just jumped in, and he’s been a great adjustment to our team,” Voorhees said. “He’s brought so many laughs and enjoyment to our team.”

From the stands, students have also taken notice. Junior Jasper Zhang said he was surprised at first when he saw Unga on the field.

“I didn’t expect to see a male cheerleader, as cheerleaders are mostly female, but he really fit in and did well,” Zhang said.

Even though cheerleading demands strength, rhythm and team work, it is still often viewed as a feminine activity — a stereotype that discourages boys from participating.

Sports psychologist Tess M. Kilwein wrote in an August article that male cheerleaders today challenge outdated ideals of masculinity but still face scrutiny that focus on their gender.

Critics, she said, often “cling to the stereotype that men in cheerleading should exist only to lift women into the air, never to occupy center stage themselves.”

That stereotype has played out on the national stage. In August, when the Minnesota Vikings posted their cheerleading roster, which included two male cheerleaders, the comment section quickly filled with offensive remarks and accusations of the team pushing a “woke” agenda.

“I’m not a Vikings fan no more,” one commenter wrote.

“I just lost all of my respect for the Vikings,” another added.

Despite the stigma, Voorhees said she would encourage other boys interested in cheer to give it a shot.

“I would tell them absolutely (try out) because it’s a great, rewarding experience,” Vorhees said. “Cheers has brought in so many friends. It’s an amazing community.”

Nationally, more boys are beginning to take that advice. Over the past decade, college cheerleading teams have seen a 25% increase in male members, according to Zipdo, a website that tracks education and career data

As participation grows, schools across the country are seeing boys try out for cheerleading in greater numbers — a shift Paly has now experienced with Unga.

Unga said his advice to others is simple..

“Just try out to see if you like it or not,” Unga said. “Don’t be nervous and just have fun with it.”