The University of Delaware's cheerleading, dance teams and mascot YoUDee earned top honors in regional performance competition this summer.

The award-winning performances took place during the Southern Region, Division I Spirit Camp, held July 31-Aug. 3 at Morehead State University in Kentucky.

The ever-popular YoUDee took top honors in the "Mascot with Spirit" category, which typically attracts some of the top performers in the country. UD's cheerleaders won first place in the fight song competition, took second place in sideline competition among the 23-team field and earned the coveted "Most Collegiate" award, shared with host Morehead State University.

The UD dance team took first place in both home routine and fight song and earned a superior rating trophy, as well as its own "Most Collegiate" award in the competition sponsored by the Universal Dance Association, a part of the parent Universal Cheerleading Association.

With the spirit camp performance at Morehead as a base on which to build, the cheerleading team has its sights set on Orlando, Fla., where the national competition will be held in January, according to coach Joe Mackley.

"This is a section of the country where cheerleading is huge," Mackley said. "Our kids left the camp with a great sense of accomplishment. It is a great start for the coming year."

The level of talent on the UD dance team should help it secure more awards when the dancers join UD's cheerleading squad at the nationals in Orlando, according to dance team coach Mindy Constanzo-Romero.

Part of the excitement in preparing for the nationals for the dance team will be working on new numbers with a nationally recognized dance instructor.

"Donnette Heath, executive artistic director for the Dance Repertory/San Francisco, will be choreographing our nationals' routine," Constanzo-Romero said. "This is the first time the team has worked with a professional choreographer."

Besides coaching at UD, Constanzo-Romero is director of the C. Milton Wright High School dance team and is a dance instructor in the Children's Dance Division at Hartford Community College, both located in Belair, Md.

Both Constanzo-Romero and Mackley credit a large part of their teams' success to the many scholarships given by UD to the cheerleading and dance teams.

UD mascot YoUDee and Baby Blue also are an important part of the campus sprit program. According to Sharon Harris, mascot coordinator, "It's very satisfying that our award-winning mascot program continues to be recognized regionally and nationally, as it has for the last several years. We also believe the addition of Baby Blue is a very positive development and this new mascot has been very well received, especially by youngsters."

Harris added that UD's dance team, cheerleaders and mascots provide a multifaceted approach that satisfies a wide range of fans and audiences.

"Our award-winning spirit program has something for everyone," Harris said. "Baby Blue is very popular, particularly with youngsters. YoUDee provides entertainment for a wide range of fans. The dance team offers precision presentations in choreography, and the cheerleaders provide the traditional spirit base for fans and visitors. Each group is among the best in its own category. As a result, UD fans receive top-quality entertainment in many settings and at athletic events throughout the entire year."