Meet the Cheerleaders Aged 55-90 Who Aim to “Inspire Before We Expire”

Sun City, Arizona holds a special place in retirement living history as the first large-scale retirement community in the United States, established in 1960. For over 43 years, it has been the beloved home of the renowned Sun City Poms, an inspiring marching and performance group comprised of 28 dynamic women over the age of 55. Known for their unwavering commitment and demanding practice schedule of rigorous 3-hour sessions held 3 times a week, this senior pom-pom squad proves that age is just a number when it comes to dancing, twirling, and marching in parades.

Mary Zirbel is the majorette of the squad.

Mary Zirbel, who is now 81 years old, has been a part of the Sun City Poms for 23 years. She joined the group after seeing them perform in a parade and thinking, “That’s what I want to do.”

While not every member of the Sun City Poms has a background in cheerleading or marching bands, Peggy Parsons, the 81-year-old president, shares that she initially got involved because of her love for dancing. On the other hand, Zirbel has been twirling batons since she was in grade school, acquiring most of her skills from a book.

Even today, baton twirling remains a significant part of Zirbel’s life. “My daughter had a great big birthday party for when I turned 80 back in Wisconsin,” she recalls. Naturally, Zirbel’s baton was present, and she enthusiastically twirled it all around the venue, spreading joy and excitement.

A requirement for membership in the Sun City Poms is residency in the retirement community of Sun City. Zirbel moved to it after working as a practical nurse in Green Bay for 4 decades.

When asked about her decision to move out west, Zirbel attributes it to just one thing: the weather. “I thought I’d probably end up in Florida,” she shares. However, after taking a trip to Sun City during the winter season with her late significant other, her plans changed. “I’m still in the same place, and my daughter and her husband are out here now also. They only live about 6 doors away from me.”

The cheerleading group is comprised of 30 permanent members.

Currently, Sun City Poms boasts 30 members, along with a few trainees who can join after completing a 3-month class and demonstrating their abilities by learning 2 routines, which Parsons, the president, describes as an audition-like process.

The ages of the current members range from 58 to 90 years old, and Parsons notes that the older the member, the louder the cheers from the audience. “Ginger, our 90-year-old, always gets the loudest,” she remarks with pride.

This year, the group has developed a special bond. “We requested our teacher to teach a routine called ’We Are Family’ because we like each other so much,” says Parsons. “They are like sisters.”

The exceptional squad rocks more than 40 performances a year.

Being a member of the Sun City Poms entails more than just getting along — it also requires a significant commitment. The group performs in approximately 40 to 50 events per year, including parades, conventions, and memory care facilities.

On March 25, the group held a highly anticipated “Celebrate the Poms” show, which drew an audience of over 700 people. The event even featured a special number from The Flops, which refers to the husbands, friends, and lovers of the Poms, adding an extra touch of excitement and entertainment to the performance.

Zirbel shared about an unforgettable experience at the Fiesta Bowl, where she walked an estimated 3 miles while twirling her baton. She describes her technique as “zigzagging,” moving back and forth while always moving forward.

When it comes to her routine, Zirbel says she doesn’t have a fixed plan. She simply twirls based on her mood, and sometimes she’s able to execute impressive tricks with ease, while other days she may feel off.

One particular memory that stands out to Zirbel is when she was performing in a western town with many horses around. She recalls the unfortunate moment when she accidentally stepped into a large pile of horse manure. Despite the unexpected mishap, she quickly cleaned it off with tissues and then faced the dilemma of what to do with the soiled tissues in her hand. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, she dropped them and pranced off, making the best of the situation.

Peggy Parsons, the president of the Sun City Poms, has an inspiring motto.

Zirbel, who is a grandmother to 3 and a great-grandmother to 2, plans to continue twirling for as long as she can. Despite thoughts of age, she realizes that the joy and excitement she brings to the crowd is worth it, and she wants to keep performing.

On the other hand, Parsons, who enjoys writing romance novels in her free time and has already published 10, has a specific milestone in mind. She hopes to reach the age of 90 so that she can celebrate with her team, the Sun City Poms. “We aspire to inspire before we expire,” she went on to explain.

Parsons expresses how much it means to her to share experiences with her group, the Sun City Poms. “Sometimes I feel like I’m their mother because I’m one of the older ones,” she explains. “And that’s wonderful because I had three sons, I didn’t have any daughters, and now I can share all these pretty costumes and fun outfits.”

In fact, Zirbel was inspired to purchase a special outfit just in case she ever gets invited to twirl at Lambeau Field by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. “I figured being in Green Bay with the Packers, I should have a green and gold one in case I get asked to twirl,” she states. “That hasn’t come around yet.”

Zirbel has her own motivational slogan too.

Zirbel lives by the motto, “Just help people out and have fun,” because she believes that life is too short. Regardless of what the future may bring, she remains committed to enjoying life to the fullest.

Parsons, on the other hand, finds solace in the cherished memories she has created with the Sun City Poms. As she grows older, she realizes that these moments are truly precious, and she no longer feels bothered by the aging process. In fact, she believes that these years are the best of her life thanks to the experiences she has had with her team.