News Release

Wilmington University Wildcat Cheerleaders Win 5th Consecutive UCA Small Co-Ed Division II Championship

The Wilmington University Wildcat Cheerleaders took their 5th consecutive win at the Universal Cheerleading Association's (UCA) national team championship competition on January 16. The 2016 UCA National Championships were held January 15-17 at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

"Our team headed straight to the finals along with eight other Small Co-Ed Division II teams," said Jeff Martino, Assistant Director of Admissions and head WilmU cheerleading coach. "They nailed their routine to capture the national championship, then they performed an encore performance later that night for the ESPN cameras."

Portions of the 2016 competition will be shown on ESPN at a date to be announced.

"The team was very confident going into the competition weekend," Martino added. "Our performances started to peak at our last national’s practice on Saturday, January 9. We followed it up with a strong performance at Bridgewater-Raritan High School in front of 2,000 spectators on Sunday, January 10. At each performance, we do our best to simulate the experience and pressure of the Nationals before we head to Florida so the team is prepared and confident when they take to the mat."

"It has been an extremely rewarding experience both on and off the mat," said junior team captain Jackie Cole. "I'm proud of my team and how much it has brought us together. I can't wait to go chase another title!"

“This year’s team is one of the most talented we have ever had at WilmU, and it's also the youngest,” said Martino, “The 2016 competition was the first time that 9 out of our 16 competitors set foot on the college national’s floor. Our goal was to hit our 2 minute 30 second routine with skills of the highest difficulty and do it with confidence and grace. We've always had the highest confidence that the team would be successful ... the rest was up to the judges.”

Click here to see video of the team's championship performance. 

Each of the cheerleaders and coaches received large, commemorative UCA Small Co-Ed Division II rings in honor of their national championship win. The rings will join the 4 other rings that the coaches and cheerleaders have won over the past 4 years of competitions.

Senior Corinne Carney has been with the Wildcat cheer team for 4 out of its 5 championship wins. "Being a 4 time national champ is a feeling you don't get very often," Carney reflected. "The work the team puts in inside and outside of practice makes us confident when competing at nationals. The coaches also play a huge part by making sure we are confident in the routine before we go down to nationals to compete. Every time you win you always want to come back for another one. 

"Our team this year was very young and some people would think that would make this championship harder to win. When the team comes together and you can trust every person standing next to you to do their part, it makes winning that championship easier."

The Partner Stunt Girls "4" quad of Corinne Carney, Alyssa Haines, Alyssa Kalafut, and Dominique Tee also performed in the Co-Ed Championship in Orlando the previous Friday night, January 15, and tied for fourth place overall. The partner stunt group of Kristen Basquill and Ryan Hertz placed fifth overall. 

For more information, contact Jeff Martino via email: jeffery.b.martino@wilmu.edu or click here to visit the official WilmU Wildcats Cheerleading page.

About Wilmington University

Wilmington University is a private, nonprofit institution committed to providing flexible, career-oriented, traditional and online associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. Ranked as the third fastest growing doctoral institution in America 2003 – 2013 by The Almanac of The Chronicle of Higher Education, affordable tuition, academic excellence and individualized attention are hallmarks of the University that enable greater student success in their chosen careers. For more information, contact Wilmington University at 302-356-INFO (4636), via email at infocenter@wilmu.edu, or visit our website: www.wilmu.edu.

Published: Sunday, January 24, 2016 - New Castle, DE