“The NCA college competition is where the best of the best college cheerleaders come to perform and hopefully leave as a national champion,” said Blaine Hamilton, head cheer coach and assistant director of Student Involvement, Tradition, Spirit and Family Relations.
Tarleton’s cheer team will have fewer than three minutes to showcase its skills for the judges. The preliminary round takes place Thursday, with the top teams advancing to finals Friday.
Tarleton Cheer has done well at nationals. In 2014, the team placed second in Large Coed Advanced. It finished eighth in All Girl Intermediate in 2015 and sixth in Large Coed Advanced in 2016.
The Tarleton State University cheer squad (top) and Texan Stars dance team will compete this week at the National Cheer Association’s NCA and NDA national championships in Daytona Beach, Fla.
This year there’s a new division, Game Day, which showcases the ability to promote school spirit and excitement. In this division, teams may incorporate members of other spirit groups. Twelve cheerleaders, six Plowboys, five Texan Star dancers and the Texan Rider make up the Tarleton squad, which will compete against six other teams.
“We are super pumped and feel pretty confident about our routine,” Hamilton said.
To reach nationals, the cheer team had to secure a bid at the NCA College Camp in July 2017. Indeed, the NCA staff ranked Tarleton the most deserving team there.
Tarleton Cheer also had a little help getting to nationals—financial assistance from Student Life Circle.
“This is such a huge blessing to our program, not only to have financial support, but also the backing of the university,” Hamilton said. “If everyone would just pray and think good thoughts on Thursday and Friday, we would really appreciate it.”
Be the first to comment