SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Every Saturday morning, a vibrant energy fills the empty food court of the Arden Fair Mall as members of the Sacramento Senior Spirit squad gather to rehearse for their next performance.
Pom poms in hand and spirits high, these women – all 55 and older – are proving age is just a number when it comes to staying active and connected.
The squad, founded in 2021 by Patricia Cobbs, consists of about 15 women, each drawn to the team for their own reasons. Some have faced the loss of a spouse, while others simply wanted a fun and dynamic way to exercise. For Cobbs, creating the squad was deeply personal.
“I needed to figure out who I was other than mom,” she shared, reflecting on her transition to becoming an empty nester.
From designing uniforms to choreographing routines, Cobbs has poured her heart into making the squad a success.
The origins of the Sacramento Senior Spirit Squad
For Cobbs, cheerleading isn’t just a pastime — it’s a lifelong passion. She broke barriers as Folsom High's first Black cheerleader, defying discrimination and setting a powerful example.
“They were not excited about having a Black cheerleader," Cobbs said. “But I didn't care because I knew I was good, and they weren't going to stop me.”
She spent all four years of high school as a cheerleader, serving as captain each year. After graduation, she continued her passion by coaching her daughters' cheerleading teams.
When they moved across the country for their careers, Cobbs struggled to navigate the quiet that followed. It was during this time she watched “Palms,” a comedy about a woman who moves to a retirement community and forms a cheerleading squad with her neighbors.
With a name suggested by her daughter, the Sacramento Senior Spirit Squad was born. Cobbs posted an invitation on Facebook, and women from across the area answered the call. Among them was Denise Young, a longtime friend.
“In high school, I never made the cheer squad,” Young said. “But 45 years later, I'm actually a cheerleader.”
The squad grew quickly, becoming a space for women to rediscover joy, forge friendships and redefine what it means to age.
Redefining aging with spirit
Donning navy-blue cheer outfits and yellow pom poms, the spirited women of the Sacramento Senior Spirit Squad can be heard chanting, “Mighty mighty women who are in our prime, we move and we groove because it’s our time!”
This is the energy they bring to parades and community events across the Sacramento region, performing nearly 20 times since the team’s inception.
While defying stereotypes may not have been their initial goal, it’s become an undeniable part of their story.
“It’s been surprising how impressed everyone is,” Cobbs said with a chuckle. “We’re not just cute, but we’re also very good.”
Cobbs, a self-proclaimed stickler, ensures every performance is polished. Her dedication has given her more than a team.
"It gave me a purpose," Cobbs said. "And new friends and me standing alone without [my daughters]."
For co-captain Denise Young, the squad is life changing.
“The biggest impact? It got me out of the house. I have more friends than I had before, especially now that I’m retired. You become friends with people you wouldn’t ordinarily run into— it’s just a good feeling,” Young said.
Cobbs is confident the squad’s legacy will continue long after she moves across the country to be with her daughters.
Her message to women everywhere is simple: “You can do whatever you want for as long as you want. You’re only old if you let your mind think that you are.”
For women 55 and older interested in joining the Sacramento Senior Spirit squad, find more information HERE.
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