PHOTO GALLERY
The High Point University cheerleading team competed in the NCA Collegiate Championship last weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla. It was the first time HPU competed in the championship and the team placed ninth in the Intermediate All-Girl division.
"The NCA Nationals was an extraordinary experience for our cheerleaders," head coach Alicia Balado said. "It is is the largest compeition in the country and the team performed very well overall. The girls far surpassed my expectiaons and helped to pave a road for future cheerleaders at High Point to follow."
High Point placed ninth in the Intermediate All-Girl division, which was won by Georgia Southern. The Panthers came in ahead of the Texas A&M Competition Squad, the University of Florida Competitive Cheerleading, University of North Carolina All-Girl Club and Michigan State University Competitive Cheer.
"It was a lot of fun to go down and compete in the Collegiate Championship," junior captain Amanda Holden said. "It was a good experience as it was the first time we have gone to Nationals. We saw a lot of good teams and enjoyed some new experiences on the mat. It was a great opportunity for us to grow as a program. Now we will be a lot better moving forward because we know what to look for when we compete."
The NCA Collegiate Championship was held at the Band Shell, the Ocean Center and the Peabody Auditorium in Dayton Beach, Fla. Beginning on April 11. The four-day event is the largest College Cheer and Dance Championship in the world.
Eighteen Cheer Divisions separate teams by designation of All-Girl or Coed, skill level, style of dance, and university enrollment (Division 1, 1A, II, III, or Open), Junior College and International. The Invitational Championship teams are designated as Large, Small, and Coed.
The Challenge Cup ensures that all teams perform at least twice with two chances to make Finals. The National Championships wrap up with the Partner Stunt, Group Stunt, Open Stunt and Mascot divisions Saturday morning on the Band Shell.
The first College National Championship was held in Dallas, Texas in 1981. The event was moved to Daytona Beach in 1996, where it has now remained for 17 years.
The National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance administer five National Championships which include the NCA/NDA All-Star National Championship, NCA Senior and Junior High School National Championship, NCA High School Open National Championship, NDA National Dance Championship, and NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship.
Watch some of HPU's performance here!
