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From First Client to 6-Time Champions: The Story of Oklahoma State University & IPP Music

From First Client to Six Time Champions The Oklahoma State IPP Music Story 1

By Steve Pawlyk

Published July 24, 2025

Powered by IPP

Here’s a story that still amazes me: The first major mix I ever produced was Oklahoma State University‘s championship mix for their 2011-12 season. I was actually with a different company that I had cofounded. OSU won their national championship in 2012 using that mix. But here’s what smart programs understand—OSU had found their sound. When I left to start IPP Music that summer, they made a strategic decision to maintain that consistency. They recognized that their musical identity had become part of their competitive advantage. What happened next changed everything—not just for IPP Music, but for how I understand the importance of signature sound in building championship programs.

The Call

When Coach Lindsey Bracken first contacted us, she was clear about what OSU needed: music that captured their identity, not just generic cheerleading songs. “We bleed orange,” she told me. “Our music needs to show that.”

I’ll be honest—the opportunity to mix for OSU back in 2012 is what began the trajectory that’s skyrocketed us to the position we are in today. Without OSU, we might not be as popular as we are now. But here’s what I didn’t expect: 12 years and 6 national championships later, they’re still with us. In an industry where programs often switch music providers like they’re changing practice wear, OSU’s loyalty has been both humbling and inspiring.

What Makes a Championship Partnership

After more than a decade working with Oklahoma State, I can tell you exactly why Coach Bracken says, “IPP provided music that encompasses our school pride so well and reflects our love for OSU.”

It’s not because we’re magicians with 8 count music or because we have some secret formula other companies don’t. It’s because from day one, we’ve approached their music as partners, not vendors. When OSU wins, we celebrate. When they face challenges, we problem-solve together. Their success is our success—literally.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Six national championships since 2012. Let that sink in. While other programs chase the newest music producer or the flashiest effects, Oklahoma State has stayed consistent with their cheer mix partner—and they’ve built a dynasty.

This isn’t luck. It’s what happens when a program commits to excellence in every aspect, including their music. Too many teams treat their cheer sounds as an afterthought, something to figure out after choreography is done. Champions like OSU know better. They understand that music is the foundation that elevates good routines to championship caliber.

Need Competition Music Blue 1
Need Competition Music Blue 1

What We’ve Learned Together

Working with OSU has taught us invaluable lessons that now benefit all 1,134+ programs we serve.

Consistency Builds Champions

Programs that stick with one music producer develop a signature sound. Judges recognize it. Fans anticipate it. Athletes perform better to music that feels like “theirs.” OSU’s sustained success proves that musical consistency is a competitive advantage.

Understanding Beats Everything

We don’t just make premade cheer music or custom mixes—we study our partners. We learn their traditions, their values, what makes them unique. For OSU, that means understanding Cowboy pride beyond the mascot.  Getting the program’s vibe. For other programs, it might be completely different. But the commitment to truly knowing our clients remains constant.

Relationships Matter More Than Transactions

We’re now the Official Music Producer of the USA Cheer National Team and we partner with an endless list of larger gyms/programs and governing bodies. We’ve grown beyond what I imagined possible in 2012. But OSU reminds me daily that our success comes from relationships, not titles. They trusted us when we were nobody. They heard their future in the mixes we built for them.

Why This Matters for Your Program

If you’re a coach or choreographer reading this, you might be wondering what OSU’s story means for you. Here’s my take after producing thousands of mixes:

Stop shopping for the cheapest option or the trendiest producer every season. Find a music partner who:

  • Understands your program’s identity
  • Delivers consistent quality
  • Values your success as their own
  • Provides cheer songs clean and properly licensed for competition

Whether you need fully custom dance songs for team routines or affordable premade cheer music that can be personalized, the key is finding a partner, not just a provider.

A Personal Note

To Coach Bracken and the entire OSU program: Thank you. You gave a small music company a chance, and your faith in us launched something bigger than either of us imagined. Your six championships are yours—earned through talent, dedication, and countless hours of hard work. But knowing we’ve been part of that journey, providing the soundtrack to your success, remains one of IPP Music’s proudest achievements.

To every other program reading this: Your championship journey is waiting. Whether you’re an established powerhouse or a growing program with big dreams, the right music partner can accelerate your path to success. We’d be honored to be part of your story, just as we’ve been privileged to be part of Oklahoma State’s.

The Future We’re Building

Today, IPP Music serves programs worldwide: youth leagues to elite All-Star gyms, from Tokyo to Topeka. We offer everything from customizable $49 premade mixes to fully custom productions. But no matter how much we grow, the lesson from OSU remains the same: championships are built on partnerships.

When programs ask me about our success stories or our production process, I often share the OSU story. Not because every program will win six nationals (though we’d love that!), but because their approach—choosing a partner and building together—is available to everyone and has proven to be critical in hitting that zero.

Ready to start your own championship partnership? Explore our custom and premade cheer music options. As the Official Music Producer of the USA Cheer National Team and the trusted partner of champions like Oklahoma State University, we’re ready to help write your success story.

Be sure to check out future articles on other teams that have found success using ippmusic.com in this new series calledPowered by IPP

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IPP's Premade Mixes are USA Cheer Compliant and customizable!  Add Sound FX, swap songs, & more!  Add your Team Name to the mix for only $10! 

SLAM artwork
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
WAKE UP THE FIRE
SLAM artwork
WAKE UP THE FIRE
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix

The Top Rule Changes Coaches Need to Know for the Upcoming Season

The Top Rule Changes Coaches Need to Know for the Upcoming Season

By Steve Pawlyk

Published January 15, 2025

Cheerleading evolves every year, as governing bodies like the U.S. All Star Federation (USASF) and National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) refine rules to increase safety, fairness, and overall spectacle. While these updates may seem daunting at first, they can actually open doors for fresh choreography, innovative stunts, and advanced crowd engagement—if you know how to adapt. In this article, we’ll break down the most important rule changes you need to understand before your team takes the mat this season.

1. Stunting & Pyramids

What’s Changed?

  • Height & Inversion Restrictions: Certain levels now face tighter guidelines on how high flyers can go in extended stunts and how many inversions are allowed. This is largely to ensure the difficulty remains age-appropriate and to prioritize athlete safety.
  • New Spotter Requirements: Some divisions may mandate additional spotters for high-risk transitions (especially inversions and twisting mounts). Coaches must be aware of how many spotters are needed and in what positions.

Why It Matters

  • Minimizing Injuries: Stricter rules encourage safer stunts, reducing the risk of falls and associated injuries.
  • Routine Adaptations: If you’ve been using complex stunts, you may need to rework parts of your routine to fit new guidelines—particularly in levels where advanced inversions are limited

Practical Example

  • Level 3 Inversions: Suppose your team relies on a forward roll from a prep-level stunt into a load-in. Check if updated rules still allow this inversion at your team’s level or if a spotter is now explicitly required.
Need Competition Music Blue 1
Need Competition Music Blue 1

2. Tumbling & Passes

What’s Changed?

  • Revised Skill Allowances: Each level has a specific range of permitted tumbling skills, such as back handsprings, tucks, and fulls. Some new rule sets might restrict (or expand) certain passes.
  • Focus on Progressions: Certain levels are emphasizing clear skill progressions—e.g., you cannot perform a front tuck if your team hasn’t demonstrated mastery of simpler skills.

Why It Matters

  • Score Sheet Implications: If a once-legal pass is now restricted, performing it may result in deductions. Conversely, if a skill was introduced into your allowed level, you can incorporate it to gain difficulty points.
  • Safety & Development: Encouraging coaches to stick to structured progressions helps prevent injuries and ensures athletes develop strong fundamentals.

Practical Example

  • No Jump Directly into Tuck: At some levels, new rules might prohibit jumping directly from a toe touch into a back tuck. This means your choreography must pivot to separate jumps from standing tucks.
Need Competition Music Blue 1
Need Competition Music Blue 1

3. Music & Voice-Over Edits

What’s Changed?

  • Music Licensing: Rule updates often include clarifications on using licensed music versus royalty-free or custom mixes. Competitions may require proof of proper licensing to avoid disqualification.
  • Voice-Over Restrictions: Some leagues now have guidelines on how many voice-overs or sound effects can be used, preventing routines from becoming too cluttered with audio snippets.

Why It Matters

  • Legal Compliance: Failing to adhere to licensing requirements can result in major deductions or disqualification.
  • Routine Flow: With voice-over restrictions, coaches must be strategic. Instead of multiple quick phrases, consider fewer but more impactful voice-overs that guide transitions or highlight big stunts.

Practical Example

  • Custom Mix Adjustments: If you rely heavily on pop songs in your routine, you may need to work with a recognized music producer who can ensure the mix is licensed and meet competition guidelines.
Need Competition Music Blue 1
Need Competition Music Blue 1

4. Division & Age Grid Adjustments

What’s Changed?

  • Age Grid Shifts: The minimum or maximum ages for certain divisions may have been altered, affecting team rosters.
  • Coed vs. All-Girl Splits: Some organizations tweak the thresholds for coed divisions based on the number of male athletes. Double-check your division if you’re near the cutoff.

Why It Matters

  • Roster Planning: Even a small age-grid change can disqualify an athlete from a division, forcing you to reshuffle.
  • Team Composition: If you have male athletes, a shift in the coed rules can move you to a completely different competitive bracket.

Practical Example

  • 12 vs. 13 Age Requirement: If your junior athlete recently turned 13 and the division cutoff changed to 12, that athlete might need to move up to the next level or division earlier than you planned.

5. Safety Clarifications & Penalties

What’s Changed?

  • Spotter Positioning: Some recent clarifications detail exactly where a spotter must stand for certain stunts, and how actively they must engage with the stunt group.
  • Uniform & Equipment Rules: Updated guidelines may specify new restrictions on jewelry, nails, or hair accessories to reduce potential hazards.
  • Deductions for Unintentional Contact: If a flyer or base collides with another group on the mat, even unintentionally, more competitions are now imposing severity-based deductions.

Why It Matters

  • Fewer Surprises: Knowing these clarifications helps you avoid unexpected penalties.
  • Consistency Across Events: Many competition hosts adopt these clarifications to unify safety standards.

Practical Example

  • Disallowed Hair Accessory: A bow with stiff or metallic parts might violate new safety criteria. The result could be a penalty or an immediate request to remove the accessory.

6. Scoring Emphasis on Execution

What’s Changed?

  • Technical Execution Weight: Across multiple competition brands, the percentage of your overall score for technique and synchronization might have increased.
  • Difficulty vs. Execution Balance: While difficulty remains key, a sloppy advanced skill might score lower than a clean intermediate skill.

Why It Matters

  • Coaching Focus: Coaches should spend more time perfecting timing, lines, and transitions.
  • Routine Strategy: Instead of squeezing in the hardest possible stunts, emphasize cleaner, well-executed elements for a more reliable score.

Practical Example

  • Double Down Deductions: If your team includes a double down from an extended stunt but consistently lands with bent knees or off counts, you’re better off sticking with a single down done perfectly.

How to Stay Ahead of Rule Changes

  1. Subscribe to Official Updates
    • Follow USASF, NFHS, and any regional competition circuit newsletters or social media.
  2. Attend Coaches’ Conferences
    • Many organizations host rule interpretation sessions—take advantage of these to ask questions and get clarifications.
  3. Leverage Experienced Choreographers
    • Professional choreographers often keep up with rule shifts. Collaborating with them ensures your routine meets the latest guidelines.
  4. Communicate with Parents & Athletes
    • If an athlete ages out of a division, or a new stunt is disallowed, inform everyone promptly to manage expectations.

Rule changes can feel overwhelming, but they’re ultimately designed to keep athletes safe and encourage continuous advancement in cheerleading. By staying informed, making proactive adjustments, and emphasizing clean execution, your team can transform new regulations into opportunities for growth—and deliver a winning routine that wows both judges and crowds.

Steve Pawlyk Signature Full

IPP's Premade Mixes are USA Cheer Compliant and customizable!  Add Sound FX, swap songs, & more!  Add your Team Name to the mix for only $10! 

SLAM artwork
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
WAKE UP THE FIRE
SLAM artwork
WAKE UP THE FIRE
Full_Out_130 mp3 image
1 minute cheer mix
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