ORLANDO, Fla. - - The streak continues for the Wilmington University cheerleading team as it captured its sixth consecutive Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) Division II Small Coed National Championship on Saturday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
The Wildcats first broke through and won their first championship in 2012 and have never looked back, claiming their sixth straight UCA Division II Small Coed National Championship on Saturday.
This year provided an extra step for the Wildcats, as they had to qualify through the opening round of the division and place in the top seven spots to get to the finals. The Wildcats passed with flying colors, being ranked first heading into the final routine.
The extra step proved to not be a hurdle for the Wildcats, as they stuck their championship routine and gave the judges no reason to take the Division II Small Coed National Championship trophy out of New Castle, Del. The Wildcats defeated Grand Canyon University, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, East Mississippi Community College, Lee University, Independence Community College, and St. Edwards University who all advanced to the final round.
The competition started on Friday for the Wildcats, as three stunt groups qualified to compete at the national championships as well.
The stunt group of Matthew Henry-Marshall and Wendy Mayerson qualified sixth among the 26 selected, and finished even better. The duo placed third overall on Friday night, only being bested by groups from Morehead State University and Texas Tech University.
The all-girl stunt group of Alyssa Haines, Alyssa Kalafut, Dominique Tee, and Corinne Carney qualified 11th overall heading into the weekend and came away with a fifth place finish. The all-girl stunt group of MaKayla Moreland, Ciana Perez, Maranda Moreland, and Kristen Basquill qualified 18th overall, but blew everyone away with a sixth place finish on Friday night.
Saturday produced nine national championships throughout the UCA competition, with winners in Division I Coed, Division I Small Coed, Division IA Coed, Division II Coed, Division II Small Coed, Open Coed, Division I All Girl, Division IA All Girl, and Open All-Girl.
The Wildcats will now stick around the ESPN Wide World of Sports on Sunday to perform their routine in front of the ESPN cameras to be aired at a later date.
AGATE:
2017 UCA Division II Small Coed Results:
1. Wilmington University
2. Grand Canyon University
3. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
4. East Mississippi Community College
5. Lee University
6. Independence Community College
7. St. Edwards University
2017 UCA Partner Stunt Girls "4" Top 10:
1. Sam Houston State University
2. University of Louisville
3. University of Louisville
4. Hofstra University
5. Wilmington University
6. Wilmington University
7. San Diego State University
8. University of Louisville
9. North Carolina State University
10. Liberty University
2017 UCA Partner Stunt Coed Top 10:
1. Morehead State University
2. Texas Tech University
3. Wilmington University
4. Trinity Valley Community College
5. University of West Georgia
6. Purdue University
7. University of Mississippi
8. Stephen F. Austin University
9. University of South Carolina
T10. Trinity Valley Community College
T10. Ohio State University