UD’s spirit team invited to nationals

1:53 p.m., Nov. 29, 2004--UD’s cheerleading, dance and mascot teams have been invited to compete in the 2005 national championships to be held Jan. 14-17 in Orlando.

This is ninth time the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) has invited UD’s mascot and cheerleaders to national competition and the seventh time for the dance team. The cheerleading squad won the national championship in 2001, YoUDee took top honors in 2002 and the dance team placed second for two consecutive years.

Cheerleading coach, Joe Mackley, said the UD team received one of only four paid invitations in Division 1.

Mascot coordinator Sharon Harris said only 10 of the 30 mascots that entered the competition were invited to compete in nationals this year.

The dance team is entering two categories this year--jazz and hip-hop--head coach Nicole Zehnder, member of the 1997 team, said.

The spirit teams will hold a dress rehearsal for the nationals close to the time they leave for Florida, and the public will be invited.

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