The University of Louisville spirit groups won three of four categories in Sunday's National Cheerleading Association Championships Sunday in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Co-ed Squad was named Grand Champion as the best squad in any division of the event.
The U of L All-Girl Squad finished first for the fifth consecutive year. The Co-ed Cheer Squad finished first for the third straight year and their 11th overall National Title. For the first time, U of L competed in the Small Co-ed category, with a four-man and 16-woman squad winning their first national championship. The 2004 National Champion Ladybird Dance Squad were national runners-up, finishing behind Brigham Young which won the competition with a score of 9.51. U of L posted a score of 9.44 to finish second.
"We were very excited and absolutely thrilled that U of L brought home the championships. Simply put, we are the team to beat whenever we compete," said Spirit Group Coordinator Todd Sharp. "We were worried a bit because our practice time was not what it has been in the past because of the honor of cheering at the NCAA Regionals and Final Four. But I think we drew from the basketball team's momentum and excitement of the national spotlight."