News Release
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Back to Back: Wildcat Cheerleaders Capture Second Straight UCA Small Coed Division II National Championship
Heading into the final routine in first place, the Wilmington University cheerleading squad hit its routine one last time to secure its second straight Small Coed Division II National Championship at the 2013 Universal Cheerleading Association and Universal Dance Association College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship this past weekend.
Performing first for the judges in the final round, the Wildcats stuck their final performance to beat out Columbus State University, Slippery Rock University, University of Southern Indiana and Colorado Mesa University to capture its second straight national championship.
“Expectations for this year's team were sky high after last year's championship season,” sixth year head coach Jeff Martino said following the performance. “With a talented new group of freshmen backed by some great veterans, this routine had the potential to be the best yet. With three amazing performances we proved to be the best team in the country.”
Before the team competition rounded out the college national championship weekend, three Wildcat groups also competed in the Partner Stunt finals. Previously qualifying to earn a spot in the National Championship finals, Amanda Endicott, Alexis Hazel, Mary Alexander, and Gabby Mattera performed in the All Girls Finals while Brad Gilbert, Natalie Spiker, David Bellew and Ariel Ellixson challenged for the Coed Championship.
The duo of Bellew and Ellixson turned in the best performance of the day, coming in seventh place overall. Gilbert and Spiker earned enough points to finish in 15th place against 19 other partners who earned a spot at the finals. The all-girl group placed eighth overall against mostly all Division I schools.
Martino concluded, “Ashley (assistant coach Ashley Mundy) and I are so proud of the team and all of their hard work. We would also like to thank the administration for all of their love and support to make the experience possible.”
