National High School Cheerleading And Dance Team Championships Attract Record Participation And Crowd Support

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 15,000 of the country's top high school cheerleaders and dancers recently competed in the National High School Cheerleading and Dance Team Championships, produced by the Universal Cheerleaders Association and the Universal Dance Association, both Varsity Spirit brands. The cheerleading championship took place Feb. 7 – 8 and the dance championship the previous weekend of Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, both at Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida.

These groups have spent months on the sidelines cheering on their high school sporting teams, and all the hours of hard work and preparation were highlighted when each team took the stage. The two-day events hosted 12,000 cheerleaders from 645 teams and nearly 5,000 dancers from 345 teams.  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. Teams competing in the championship had to qualify at a regional event in order to participate.

"The growth in championship participation each year is a testament to the popularity of cheerleading and dance, and we are honored to continue to provide this showcase for such hard work and dedication," said Jeff Webb, CEO of Varsity Spirit, the organization that has hosted the events since the early 1980s.

Varsity Spirit will be posting segments of each performance on www.varsity.com so fans can watch their favorite teams. The competitions will also air on ESPNU and ESPN2 starting in late March and will continue through mid-April. Viewers can check their local listings for air times.

Cheerleading Large Division winners included:

• Large Varsity Division I (>1,600 school enrollments): Hunterdon Central Regional High School – Flemington, N.J.
• Large Varsity Division II (<1,599 school enrollments): Bishop McCort Catholic High School – Johnstown, Pa.
• Large Varsity Coed (21-30 members; 8+ males): Dyer County High School – Newbern, Tenn.

Cheerleading Medium Division winners included:

• Medium Varsity Division I (>1,300 school enrollments): Winter Park High School – Winter Park, Fla.
• Medium Varsity Division II (<1,299 school enrollments): Greenup County High School – Greenup, Ky.
• Medium Varsity Coed (21 - 25 members; 4-7 males): New Oxford High School – New Oxford, Pa.

Cheerleading Small Division winners included:

• Small Varsity Division I (>1,300 school enrollments): El Dorado High School – Placentia, Calif.
• Small Varsity Division II (<1,299 school enrollments): Southwestern High School – Somerset, Ky.
• Small Varsity Coed (5-20 members; 1-4 males): Sparkman High School – Harvest, Ala.

Dance Team Varsity winners included:

• Large Varsity Hip Hop (15 or more members): Eisenhower High School – Shelby Charter Township, Mo.
• Large Varsity Pom (15 or more members): Floyd Central High School – Floyds Knobs, Ind.
• Large Varsity Jazz (15 or more members): Coral Reef High School – Miami, Fla.
• Small Varsity Hip Hop (5-14 members): Westmoore High School – Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Small Varsity Pom (5-14 members): St. Thomas More Catholic School – Lafayette, La.
• Small Varsity Jazz (5-14 members): Westmoore High School – Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Varsity High Kick: Seminole High School – Sanford, Fla.

Dance Team Junior Varsity Division winners included: 

• Junior Varsity Hip Hop: Collierville High School – Collierville, Tenn.
• Junior Varsity Pom: Eisenhower High School – Shelby Charter Township, Mo.
• Junior Varsity Jazz: Coral Reef High School – Miami, Fla.
• Junior Varsity High Kick: Seminole High School – Sanford, Fla.

More than 50,000 spectators attended the national championship events, with performances at four different venues within the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and one stage at Hollywood Studios, all on the grounds Walt Disney World® Resort.

The Universal Cheerleaders Association and Universal Dance Association are dedicated to the safe and responsible practice of cheerleading and dance, and all teams participating in the National High School Cheerleading and Dance Team Championships comply with the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators' safety guidelines.

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, of which more than 350,000 cheerleaders and dancers attend each year. Focused on safety, entertainment and traditional school leadership, Varsity Spirit's 1,200 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.

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SOURCE Varsity Spirit

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