The advice I was recently given corresponds largely with DAR's idea.
-) get to know the pitch attitude your plane will sustain in climb
-) start to roll with full stick back
-) as soon as the nosewheel lifts off, release stick to keep the horizon at the optimal pitch, which you have determined before. It may change a bit with gross weight, though.
This way, you lift the delicate nosewheel off the ground as soon as possible, without ever risking a stall. (except perhaps with a gust of tailwind)
Mind you, this advice was given for a microlight, I've no idea if it can be taken to a C172 literally.
NB replace "stick" with "yoke" as appropriate