UTA Cheerleaders win fourth consecutive NCA National Championship!
The University of Texas at Arlington cheerleading team won its fourth consecutive National Championship Friday at the National Cheerleaders Association collegiate cheer competition in Daytona, Florida.
UTA’s seventeen-member Maverick Cheer squad took home first place in the Small Coed Division One group.
“This is the best team I’ve ever been on,” said Morgan Rose, a sophomore nursing major who is also captain of the squad. “We have a great connection. I feel like I won with my best friends. I spend more time with them than my family, so they really are my family.”
Rose said the team was judged on execution of stunts, pyramids, tumbling and overall sharpness during two days of intense competition.
“It is a different feeling to repeat,” Rose said, “and all of our cheerleading alums have been so supportive and excited for us.”
UTA graduate Brandi Freeman was part of the squad for four years. “I am proud of this team for continuing the tradition of excellence,” she said. "Cheerleading is a tough sport requiring incredible athletic talent and the UTA squad’s continued success speaks volumes about the hard work they put in.”
While this is Maverick Cheer's fourth consecutive title, it is the squad's fifth championship since 2010.
“We keep a very level head and just focus on our team,” said sophomore Zac Park, a broadcasting major.
“We work so hard all year. From tryouts in May through the competition in April, we practice four times a week and on weekends, plus we cheer at games. But all of that paid off. It feels so good to represent UTA in this way.”
Park and Rose both plan to return to the squad next year and vow to bring home another championship.
“I’m thrilled to see our Cheerleaders win the national championships for the fourth year in a row," said UTA President Vistasp Karbhari. "Not only are these student-athletes exceptional in their sport and in class but they are also in the forefront of building and showcasing school spirit. Their performance in the national competition was tremendous and, just as with other teams, they are helping enhance the reputation of our great university. I’d like to thank the entire squad and the alumni of past teams for all they are doing to bring attention and glory to UTA.”
About The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a Carnegie Research-1 “highest research activity” institution. With a projected global enrollment of close to 57,000, UTA is one of the largest institutions in the state of Texas. Guided by its Strategic Plan 2020 Bold Solutions|Global Impact, UTA fosters interdisciplinary research and education within four broad themes: health and the human condition, sustainable urban communities, global environmental impact, and data-driven discovery. UTA was recently cited by U.S. News & World Report as having the second lowest average student debt among U.S. universities. U.S. News & World Report lists UTA as having the fifth highest undergraduate diversity index among national universities. The University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is ranked as the top four-year college in Texas for veterans on Military Times’ 2017 Best for Vets list.