The Gannon University all-girl and co-ed competitive cheer teams concluded their season over the weekend in Daytona, Fla., where they placed sixth in the NCA Collegiate Cheer and Dance National Championship.
The Knights scored 91.63 nationally in the Intermediate All-Girl Division II and the co-ed team finished sixth in the Small Co-Ed Division II with a score of 91.57. Both teams advanced from the preliminary round Thursday. The girls placed fourth with a score of 91.52 and the co-ed team placed sixth in the prelims.
This was the all-girl team’s fourth trip to Daytona in five years of existence and the co-ed team went for the third time in three years of competing.
Valdosta State took first place in the all-girl division with a score of 94.07, Oklahoma Baptist followed with a mark of 93.73 and California State-Stanislaus took third with a score of 93.10.
Senior all-girl team member Amanda MacNeil admitted that the team didn’t place where it wanted, but team members were extremely proud of their routines.
“The scoring in our division was so tight that it really was anyone’s day,” she said. “As we were in the warmup area before competing in finals, our coach (Meghan Foran) told us that we had already had a perfect season because of how we came into practice each day focused and ready to work.
“She always says it’s what happens in the middle, the journey, that counts the most. This year our journey was full of successes both big and small, and I can’t wait to see where this momentum and drive takes the team next year.”
For the second consecutive year Blinn College of Texas topped the list for the co-ed teams with a score of 95.10. Lindenwood scored 93.50 to earn second place and Central Oklahoma took third with a score of 92.43.
Senior Mahmoud Barnawi said he was happy with how the competition went and enjoyed a few days in the sun as well.
“The competition went good — we didn’t do too well the first day, but we killed it the second day,” Barnawi said.
Both the all-girl and co-ed teams had three perfect scores. They scored a 10-out-of-10 points in 45-second gameday, 10-out-of-10 in collegiate image and five-out-of-five in jumps.
Foran said both the all-girl and co-ed teams had excellent finals performances that ranked among the best all season.
“I am incredibly proud of not just their performances this past week, but their work ethic and the intensity with which they’ve practiced and competed all season,” she said.
Last year the all-girl team placed fifth in Daytona with a score of 91.25 and the co-ed team scored 91.90 and placed fourth. In 2016 it placed fifth with a score of 80.68.
This concludes the season for both teams. Of the three scored competitions the all-girl team placed first at the Falls Freeze Cheer and Dance Frenzy, second at the Cheer Ltd. Nationals at Canam and sixth in Daytona.
The co-ed team had four consecutive first-place finishes, placed second once and sixth in Daytona.
BRANDON JACES
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