Restoring stunts and tumbling for Nebraska’s cheer squad was a long process for Butzke, a Scarlet Dance Team member from 2000-03 who returned to the program in 2011. Her hiring came at about the same time as Nebraska’s switch to the Big Ten Conference, which she said was a major catalyst toward bringing stunts and tumbling back.
Restrictions were first placed on the Nebraska cheerleading program in 2002, six years after cheerleader Tracy Jensen suffered neck injuries after landing on her head during a practice session. While Butzke wouldn’t comment on the injury and subsequent restrictions, she said the program has a “perfection-over-progression” mindset.