The nationally ranked University of Delaware spirit teams -- the cheer, dance and YoUDee mascot squads -- are headed to the national championships next week but not before they showcase their routines in a special send-off performance on Monday, Jan. 8, at the Carpenter Sports Building (Lil Bob) on the Newark campus.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5 p.m.  

The evening will begin with a performance by the dance team, which will be followed by the all-girl cheer team, YoUDee and the coed cheer team. The event will close with a second performance by the dance team.

The spirit teams -- under the direction of Rob Ellery, cheerleading coach; Kirby Lynch, assistant cheerleading coach and mascot coordinator;  Nicole Zehnder, dance team coach;  and Risa Levine, dance team assistant coach -- will then head to Orlando, Florida, for the UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships, set Jan. 12-14 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships is the most prestigious college cheerleading championship in the country. The events are scheduled to be broadcast live online at ESPN3 and Varsity.com.  

UD has been among the most successful spirit squads in the country over the last two decades. YoUDee has won the Open Mascot Division seven times and is the defending national champion; the dance team is a four-time national champion in the Hip Hop Division; the coed cheer team has won three national titles; and the all-girl cheer team has been a national finalist twice over the last three seasons.  

UD teams will vie for titles in Orlando beginning on Friday, Jan. 12, with the Girls Partner Stunt team consisting of Calia Nardone, Johnna Brooks, Allyson Ottomano and Danielle Bimonte competing at 7:04 p.m.

The Saturday competition schedule includes:

8:45 a.m. – Division I Hip Hop Dance semifinals

12:13 p.m. - Division I Small Coed Cheer semifinals

5:05 p.m. - Division I All-girl Cheer semifinals

6:13 p.m. – YoUDee will compete in the Open Mascot Division championship

9:29 p.m. – Division I Jazz Dance semifinals

Teams that advance to the finals will compete on Sunday. Additional information about the national championships and full coverage of the events are available online.