Kentucky and Oklahoma take Top Cheer Honors; Ohio State and Nevada Earn Top Dance Honors at the National College Cheer and Dance Team Championship

Thirty-fifth annual event recognizes nation's top college cheerleaders, dancers and mascots

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Jan 15, 2018, 09:01 ET

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship, an elite competition produced by the Universal Cheerleaders Association and the Universal Dance Association, two Varsity Spirit brands, took place this weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort® in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The event hosted more than 4,500 of the country's top college cheerleaders, dancers and mascots from 220 teams with representation from 41 states and 10 countries.

Varsity Spirit (PRNewsFoto/Varsity Brands)

The teams that compete in the College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship have spent the greater part of the school year on the sidelines supporting some of the best teams in college sports, and all of their hours of diligence and preparation were highlighted in their performances on the famous competition floor. The event hosted 117 squads in the cheerleading division and 103 teams in the dance team division. Cheerleading teams are judged on their stunting and tumbling skills, crowd-leading abilities and overall performance, while the dance competition is judged on choreography, technique, execution and overall effect. Mascots also competed, with 13 college mascots vying for titles.

"The College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship brings together teams from across the nation to showcase their skills to the rest of the country. These athletes have devoted hundreds of hours to generating spirit on their campuses, leading their crowds at games and pep rallies, and supporting their schools' athletic teams," said Jeff Webb, Founder and Chairman of Varsity Spirit. "It's an honor to host this competition to recognize these dedicated and talented young people."

The College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship weekend kicked off with the grand opening of The Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World® Resort, the first in the world designed specifically for cheer and dance events. It's estimated that more than 20,000 spectators from around the United States and the world attended the weekend's events.

The Division 1A Winners included:
Coed Cheer:	University of Kentucky	Jazz:	The Ohio State University
All Girl Cheer:	University of Oklahoma	Pom:	The Ohio State University
Mascot:	University of Minnesota	Hip Hop:	University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Coed Game Day Cheer:	University of Cincinnati	Game Day Dance:	University of Nevada, Las Vegas
All Girl Game Day Cheer:	University of Mississippi

Varsity Spirit live-streamed the event all weekend on Varsity TV; segments of each performance will be posted next week so fans who missed the event can watch their favorite teams. The competitions will also air on ESPNU and ESPN2 starting in February. Viewers can check their local listings for air times. Full results are available on Varsity TV. 

About Varsity Spirit
Memphis-based Varsity Spirit has been a driving force behind cheerleading's dynamic transformation into the high-energy, athletic activity it is today, and the leading global source for all things cheerleading and dance. A division of Varsity Brands, Varsity Spirit is a leader in uniform innovation and educational camps, clinics and competitions, impacting nearly a million athletes each year. Focused on safety, entertainment and traditional school leadership, Varsity Spirit's 5,000 employees have been helping raise cheerleading's influence and profile since 1974. For more information about Varsity Spirit or Varsity Brands, please visit www.varsity.com or www.varsitybrands.com.

Media Contact:
Sheila Noone
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SOURCE Varsity Spirit