Competitors in good spirits

The winning Blue Hen spirit was in the national spotlight in January, when UD cheerleaders, dance team members and mascot YoUDee performed at the College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Competition at Disney World.

All the University competitors placed fourth or higher in their divisions. After returning to Delaware, the spirit team members were honored at halftime at The Bob during the Jan. 19 men’s basketball game against James Madison.

“When you look at the total picture, the University has one of the strongest spirit team programs in the country,” Joe Mackley, then head cheerleading coach, said. “Our cheerleaders took third place, in spite of a few misses, so you know we had a strong routine.” Cheerleaders Amanda Cassarino and Greg Gilbert placed second nationally in UD’s first-ever entry in the partner/stunt category.

The dance team took third place in the hip-hop category and fourth place in the jazz category. YoUDee came in fourth in a field of 38 initial entries in the mascot competition.