Loyola Cheer Places Seventh at UCA Nationals in Orlando

The Loyola University cheer team achieved an impressive seventh-place finish in the All-Girl Division I Game Day category at the 2025 Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) Nationals, held January 17-19 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Competition Highlights
The UCA Nationals, a premier collegiate cheerleading event, features divisions such as Large Coed, Small Coed, and All-Girl. Loyola’s journey to nationals began with a spirit video submission showcasing crowd engagement with signs, flags, and other spirited elements. The Game Day routine evaluation focused on crowd leadership, skill execution, motion technique, and overall performance, allowing stunts and tumbling only in the live routine.

Loyola’s Game Day routine consisted of three components:

• Fight Song Routine: Featured high-energy movements and clean stunts with no drops.
• Situational Sideline Routine: Energized the crowd with the signature “Shoot Two” cheer.
• Game Day Timeout Routine: Included dynamic shoulder stands, flags, and advanced stunts, though the semifinals performance experienced minor stumbles.

Performance Progression
In the semifinals, Loyola scored 90.5 points, placing eighth out of 22 teams and advancing to the finals. The team worked to refine their routines, sharpening stunts and improving synchronization. Their adjustments were evident in the finals:

• Fight Song Routine: Delivered with precision and on-time stunts.
• Situational Sideline Routine: Featured a defensive cheer that engaged the crowd.
• Timeout Routine: Executed flawlessly, earning loud cheers from the audience.

With their polished finals performance, Loyola improved their score to 92.4 points, securing seventh place among 11 finalists.

A Strong Finish
The Loyola cheer team returned home with a trophy, celebrating their hard work, dedication, and spirited routines. Their achievement highlights their ability to represent Loyola University on a national stage while inspiring school pride and enthusiasm.

Stay connected with Loyola Cheer for updates on their upcoming events and performances!