Mineola High School cheerleaders wear varsity sweaters and pleated skirts...

Mineola High School cheerleaders wear varsity sweaters and pleated skirts for a photograph in the 1961 yearbook. Credit: Mineola Public Library

Long Island high school cheerleading squads have changed drastically during the last century.

From below-the-knee skirts to miniskirts, from cartwheels to highflying flips, local cheerleaders have gone from simply cheering on athletes to becoming athletes themselves who often steal the spotlight and bring home trophies, too.

Use the link below this sentence to view the before-and-after-photos we've come across.

Were you a Long Island cheerleader? Send your high school photos to tara.conry@newsday.com and they may be featured on newsday.com.

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa spoke with Robert Sinclair Jr., senior manager of public affairs for AAA Northeast, about some of the best and worst times to travel during the holiday weekend.   Credit: Newsday Studios; File Footage

Labor Day weekend travel forecast NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa spoke with Robert Sinclair Jr., senior manager of public affairs for AAA Northeast, about some of the best and worst times to travel during the holiday weekend.

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa spoke with Robert Sinclair Jr., senior manager of public affairs for AAA Northeast, about some of the best and worst times to travel during the holiday weekend.   Credit: Newsday Studios; File Footage

Labor Day weekend travel forecast NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa spoke with Robert Sinclair Jr., senior manager of public affairs for AAA Northeast, about some of the best and worst times to travel during the holiday weekend.

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