DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For the second time in as many years, the Alma College cheer program competed in two divisions at the National Cheerleaders Association College National Championship, looking to defend their two national championships from the year prior. After prelims, Spirit Rally, who is competing for the second year in program history, sits in first place with a zero deduction 90.5 and Advanced All-Girl is also atop the standings with a score of 92.45.
Spirit Rally holds the top spot over Penn State Behrend by 6.5 points as they scored an 84.0 to hold second-place. East Texas Baptist University sits in third with a prelims score 82.7 to round out the podium. Tufts University and Central College both sit in fourth and fifth place with scores of 76.6 and 73.8, respectively. Alma is in their second year competing in the division and set a program record last season scoring a 96.725, the highest of any division, and the highest score in program history regardless of what division of competition. The Scots will look to match the energy of last season again on Saturday for finals as they will perform at 10:10 AM in the final Spirit Rally Division III slot as they prepare to defend their title.
The Advanced All-Girl Division III team also sits in first place following day one of competition with a prelims score of 92.45. The Scots lead by almost three points over SUNY Cortland, who they trailed last year after their prelims performance. SUNY Cortland finished the day with a score of 89.4833, followed by Elmira College, who scored an 81.5. Fellow Michigan school and Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association member Adrian College competed in the Advanced All-Girl division and placed fourth with a score of 75.9. Rochester Institute of Technology rounded out the scoring in fifth place with a score of 73.8833. Alma will look to capture their sixth consecutive national championship in Advanced All-Girl Division III tomorrow, Friday, as they will perform at 11:32 AM on the Bandshell. Awards for Advanced All-Girl will take place around 4:00 PM.
