Spirit squad earns invitation to national championships

The University of Delaware's award-winning cheerleading and precision dance teams and mascot program have been invited to participate in the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) Dance Team and Mascot Nationals Championships, to be held Jan. 11-14 at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

To earn an invitation, each squad must submit a video highlighting skill levels demonstrated through individual and team performances.

YoUDee and the UD cheerleaders received a fully paid invitation to the national championships as a result of a third place finish in each of their respective categories.

The awards were based on a performance review of individual team efforts by a UCA panel of former cheerleaders, dancers and mascots.

"This is the highest preliminary ranking the cheerleaders have had since we started competing six years ago," Joe Mackley, UD cheerleading coach, said. "We have finished as high as third in the finals in 1998-1999, and we hope that this is the year to make some real noise."

YoUDee's invitation to the national championships follows The Fightin' Blue Hen's first place performance for the Most Collegiate Mascot at the 2000 UCA spirit summer camp.

The award honors the demonstration by a mascot of the most school spirit and pride as well as the best representation of a home school among mascots competing in a UCA event.

"We're very pleased with the achievements of our mascot program and its tradition of excellence," Sharon Harris, UD mascot coordinator, said. "Over the years, YoUDee has received a number of spirit and technical awards and has consistently been recognized among the best mascots in the country. In fact, we receive inquiries from staff at other institutions who want to know more about our program and how to develop a similar one at their school."

This strong showing in preliminary competition for the spirit squad follows an award-winning performance by the UD teams this summer, when they took top honors at the Southern Region, Division I Spirit Camp, held July 31-Aug. 3 at East Tennessee State University.

–Jerry Rhodes