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For the 20th time overall and 15th time since 1995, Kentucky cheerleading has claimed the UCA National Championship. This is perhaps the most dominant run of championships by any school in any sporting-related event in history. The Wildcats defeated the University of Central Florida for the crown in the championship round held Sunday in Orlando, Florida.
Last year, you may recall that the cheerleading Wildcats finished second to the University of Memphis. Obviously, that challenge to UK's dominance of the event has been responded to. From UKAthletics.com:
The championship is the culmination of a year of hard work. UK didn't drastically alter the formula that has led to so much past success, but a seven-member senior class was intent on going out the right way. [UK cheerleading coach Jomo] Thompson said those veterans played an instrumental role in setting the tone for UK's training.
"We just told the kids, 'You want to make sure that you're giving a hundred percent every time, even in practice, because you get one shot, one opportunity,' " Thompson said. "So you want to experience as many as things that can go wrong, encounter all those things in practice so if something like that happens at nationals, you're ready for it. I thought they did a great job this year getting themselves prepared."
Prepared they were. The universe is now back in order with the Wildcats atop college cheerleading. Congratulations.
Congratulations are also due to the UK dance team, who improved from its sixth place finish last year to fifth this season.
