By Mylie Norton, Staff Writer
In their fifth year of competing at Long Island University, the Cheer and Dance team has won three consecutive National Championships at the Division 1 level.
On January 19th, the Sharks Spirit teams took the stage at the UCA/UDA National Championship at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, FL. The teams competed against four other programs, ultimately earning the top score to take home first place. The competing teams included Southern Connecticut State, Pittsburg State University, the University of South Dakota, and the University of Puerto Rico.
The Sharks earned a total score of 93.1833 to place them at the top of the bracket among the four competing teams. The University of Puerto Rico placed second with a score of 89.9167.
As the second place team, University of Puerto Rico was announced, the Shark team knew they had secured the win of a third National Championship.
“It’s really crazy. If you had told me back in my freshman year that I would be graduating with three championships under my belt and to be a part of this program that achieved that, I would have not believed you,” said senior business administration and finance major, Caleigh Kellerman. “A three-peat is insane. Winning once is an amazing accomplishment. To do it not twice but three times, back to back to back is something super incredible and I couldn’t be more proud,” said the dance team captain.
“The adrenaline kicks in when you’re on that stage,” said sophomore marketing major Mikayla Coster. “They call the other team and you realize in your head, ‘Wow we just won’. It’s the most amazing feeling in the world.”
Coming back to Orlando was different this year for the Sharks because they had a target on their backs already being two-time National Champions. Sophomore, Alexa Hernandez explains the commitment and dedication it took to get that third title.
“Coming out of last year, we had more of a fight to get that third national championship. When we came back to Florida, we were locked in, ready to perform, leave it all on the stage, and we were a lot more confident this year than last year,” Hernandez said.
Following their victory, the Spirit teams return to LIU to continue their winter/spring season. With basketball games to attend, rehearsing new routines, lifting, April auditions, and hosting clinics to recruit future Sharks, the squad does not have much downtime.
“With all the events that we do, we also drill a lot of tricks and techniques, as well as lifting. We are improving our physical state for next year,” said Hernandez.
The Sharks will continue to improve their skill as well as build team chemistry to maintain their status at the top and return home with another national championship victory next year. They understand the dedication it takes to compete at the highest level.
“It’s hard to get to the top but it’s even harder to stay there,” said junior broadcasting major Gillian Taylor.
The quoted material contained in this article was courtesy of the Friday LIU Athletics edition of 88.1 FM WCWP’s “Sports Shark Tank,” with the original episode airing on Feb. 7, 2025. “Sports Shark Tank” airs Monday through Friday fom 5:00-6:00 p.m. on 88.1 FM, WCWP.org, and streaming on the WCWP mobile app.
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