Kentucky and Indiana Take Top Cheer Honors; Minnesota, Ohio State and Nevada Earn Top Dance Honors at the 2019 UCA & UDA College Cheerleading & Dance Team National Championship

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Varsity Spirit is pleased to announce that the University of Kentucky and Indiana University, and University of Minnesota, Ohio State University and University of Nevada secured first place finishes in the 2019 UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship, respectively. The elite competition, produced by the Universal Cheerleaders Association and the Universal Dance Association, took place this weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort® in Florida. The event hosted 5,500 of the country's top college cheerleaders, dancers and mascots from 242 teams with representation from 42 states and 10 countries.

After spending the majority of the school year perfecting their routines on the sidelines, the cheer and dance teams had their moment in the spotlight during their performances at the competition this past weekend.  The event hosted 137 squads in the cheerleading division and 105 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. Game Day divisions, which offer cheer and dance teams the chance to recreate their performances on the sidelines, greatly expanded this year, with twice as many teams than in 2018. Mascots also competed, with 15 college mascots vying for titles.

"The UCA & UDA 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 of Varsity Spirit. "It's an honor to host this competition to recognize these dedicated and talented young people."

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship taking place at the Walt Disney World® Resort with an estimated 20,000 spectators from around the world in attendance.  Last year, the event weekend kicked off with the grand opening of The Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, the first in the world designed specifically for cheer and dance events.

The Division 1A winners included:

Varsity Spirit live streamed the event all weekend on Varsity TV and full routine videos are available for fans who were otherwise unable to attend. 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 CONTACTS 
Sheila Noone
Varsity Spirit
[email protected]; 901-251-5959

Catherine Pope
Rubenstein Public Relations
[email protected]; 212-805-3022

SOURCE Varsity Spirit