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SALT LAKE CITY — For many former collegiate athletes and cheerleaders, the thrills of performing in college are some of their fondest memories. Most of them never play professionally, or they graduate and never perform again.
However, identical twins Gloria and Glendora Schwantes started cheering for Brigham Young University athletics in 1945 and performed as cheerleaders until they graduated. The twins remember cheering at many basketball games, but they said their most memorable performance cheering occurred after they had both graduated.
In 1951, the Schwantes twins were living in New York working for TIME Magazine. The BYU men’s basketball team was invited to participate in the National Invitation Tournament at Madison Square Garden. With no funds to bring cheerleaders to the tournament, the Schwantes twins filled in.
“We got excited the BYU basketball team was coming,” Gloria Schwantes said. “So we went out to a game, but they didn’t have any cheerleaders with them. We got together with a guy from the University of Utah and the three of us practiced some routines and led the cheers for the Y. It was an awesome experience to face a crowd of people that you could hardly see.”
The Cougar’s basketball team ended up winning the tournament, making it their first NIT championship.
Gloria Schwantes remembers being a part of many clubs while attending BYU, and going on many double dates with her sister, Glendora. While dating, they would often trade dates for fun, but one time Glendora wouldn’t trade back, Gloria said.
“We were double dating, but we liked the same guy, and Glendora wouldn’t trade back with me,” she said.
Although they are twins, the sisters actually have different birthdays as they were born on opposite sides of midnight. Gloria was born on July 2 and Glendora on July 3. Gloria currently lives in Kanab and has five children. Glendora lives in Golden, Colorado, and has four kids.
The Schwantes sisters will be celebrating their ninetieth birthdays with a reunion on July 30, among family and friends.
Gloria said she wants all students and cheerleaders to take advantage of the opportunities they are presented.
“Get yourself into it and enjoy it," she said. "Graduate and get on your way.”
Carlos is a student at Utah Valley University and currently works as a news writing intern for KSL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Car1osBaquerizo or email him at carlosbaquerizo@ymail.com.
