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ORLANDO, Fla. - - Looking for its ninth Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) National Championship, the Wilmington University cheerleading team needed to overcome Drury in the finals and did so without deductions at the 2023 UCA College Nationals on Sunday morning.
The Wildcats locked up its ninth Open Small Coed Cheer National Championship on Sunday with a score of 89.5, but it was their first since 2019. The team won eight consecutive Small Coed National Championships from 2012-19.
To capture their ninth and bring the trophy back to the First State, the Wildcats needed to overtake Drury University after the semifinal round. The Wildcats went into the finals in second place with a semifinal score of 85.6 after a one-point deduction.
But the team cleaned up its routine on Sunday morning and outperformed Drury, earning a score of 89.5 without any deductions. Drury finished second with a score of 86.6 on Sunday.
After their string of eight consecutive National Championships, the Wildcats finished second in 2020, did not compete in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and placed third overall a season ago.
For the first time in program history, the Wildcats also competed in the Small Coed Cheer Game Day division, finishing 14th out of 24 entries, but missing the cut for the finals on Saturday. The University of Delaware won its fifth straight Small Coed Cheer Game Day National Championship.
The University of Delaware also won the Open Mascot National Championship and the Division I Hip Hop Dance National Championship, making the First State winners of four National Championships at the 2023 UCA and UDA College Nationals.
Open Small Coed Cheer Final Results:
1. Wilmington University – 89.5
2. Drury University – 86.6
3. Northwest Mississippi Community College – 83.8
4. University of Southern Indiana – 75.65
5. Northwest Missouri State University – 69.6
6. Itawamba Community College – 66.5