The Illinois State University cheerleading squad placed third in the UCA (Universal Cheerleading Association) College Division I National Cheerleading Competition held at the MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida.
The Illinois State cheerleaders, who regularly entertain fans at home Redbird athletics events, took their show to the national scene and brought back with them some serious hardware, a third-place national trophy which is to be presented at the mens basketball game on Saturday.
This was a feat that no other cheerleading team has ever accomplished at Illinois State, said head cheerleading coach Chris Owens. At the time they announced our names we knew we did our school, our families and ourselves proud. For those couple of seconds in our lives we were the heroes weve always wanted to be!
The award earned the cheerleaders the admiration of Illinois State Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger.
It came as no surprise to me and it should come as no surprise to anyone who has attended an Illinois State athletics event recently, Weisenburger said. This group makes us proud each time they perform and a national award like this confirms what we, at Illinois State, have know all along ... that our cheerleaders can compete with anyone, anywhere, at any time.
The road to the competition was not an easy one though.
The squad had to practice three hours a day, three days a week, attend games and raise money for the trip and for the cheerleading program. Owens said. It was a long and difficult road that could not have been done without the help of a great team with a lot of heart and a supportive athletics department.
The Birds were seeded 15th entering the competition based on a skills tape submitted earlier in the year. After finishing first in the semifinals at the MGM Studios and becoming the first Illinois State cheearling team to qualify for the finals, Owens and his squad knew the stage was set for a triumphant finish.
Before the finals I, along with my other coaches, stated that all we have to do is hit the routine and make the crowd respect us ... it was our opportunity to be heroes, Owens said. The squad did just that and hit the routine for the very last time and we knew we had given it our all.
Along with Owens, the 'Birds are coached by Mandy Boyd and Erik Rankin. The squad consists of Jeff Benson, Suzanne Gramas, Justin Katz, Mindi Luevano, Randy Santiago, Stacy Treadwell, Chris Vivio, Michelle DeLira, Nick Vivio, Heather Dudley, Jeremy Flood, Carla Cabasa, James Paul Los, Jessica Hester, Tim Babin, Adam Duy and Zac McCann.
