Port Huron, MI – Alma College Cheer attended the NCA College Camp from August 7-9. This camp is the first stop on the team's journey to the national championships, and they competed with other teams to earn a bid to the championship meet.
The NCA Camp was a qualification camp, of which 8 take place around the country in July and August. (Texas, Nevada, Missouri, Florida, Michigan, Boston, South Carolina, and Massachusetts)
Bids are awarded to teams throughout the 3-days of the camp. Teams and staff vote for the top five teams, and points are awarded for placing in competitions on final day.
In addition to bids, there are also individual competitions on day 2 of camp. Individual athletes can try out for an All-American award at camp. This is a tryout in front of the entire camp with the same requirement at every camp throughout the summer. These requirements include a round off back handspring full, a toe touch back tuck, and an elite stunt sequence.
Alma had 7 athletes tryout, the most in program history. Five were awarded All-American honors, they include second time All-Americans Gabby Berry (junior), Madison Wasen (junior), and Shayla Hengesbach (sophomore) and first time All-Americans Alex Erbe (Sophomore) and Grace Gottschalk (Freshman).
The other competition is the Top Gun Stunt competition where stunt groups consisting of 4 athletes can create and complete a 45 second stunt sequence in front of the camp for top honors.
Alma had 5 stunt groups enter the competition this year competing against groups from Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University. All five Alma groups hit zero deduction routines, and the group consisting of Carlie Scott (senior), Madison Wasen (Junior), Carly Buchanan (junior) and Cassie Mullings (junior) won top honors and were named Top Gun Stunt Champions.
On final day, Alma won both team competitions in their division, bring home first place trophies for Rally Routine and Game Day.
The Scots were voted Most Collegiate by the NCA Staff, an award given to the team that the staff feels best represented their college or university.
Alma was also named Best All-Around team at camp, earning 119 points, over Grand Valley who came in with 115 and MSU who finished with 74, and secured a Gold Paid Bid to the 2023 NCA College National Championships in Daytona.
