SMU’s pom team took first place in the open dance division for the second time in three years at the National Dance Alliance Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla., after executing a mistake-free routine through preliminaries and finals.
Performing a modern jazz routine in the Open I Dance Division, the girls demonstrated a perfect combination of turns and leaps, proving they were much more advanced than the competition.
Choosing their theme to be “one,” the dancers came together as a unit on the floor to dance a perfectly synchronized ensemble.
“I can’t be more proud of these girls!” said head coach Lori Lewis. “After three years of coaching them, I am still so proud and excited each time I am with them.”
The pom squad defeated West Virginia University and Weber State University by a .007 margin to gain possession of the first-place trophy.
The cheerleaders captured second place in the Small Co-Ed Division I category, falling only .041 points behind the first-place team, the University of Louisville.
While SMU faced some difficulties getting to the beach because of a five-hour flight delay followed by a five-hour bus ride, the trouble did not impact either team’s performance.
The cheerleaders took a strong second-place stance in the preliminary round, finishing just .013 points behind the leader. Despite a seventh-place finish in last year’s competition and a trip to the threatening Challenge Cup, the Mustangs hit a perfect routine to shove them into the top rankings in this year’s competition.
In the finals, SMU competed alongside the beach, executing a series of creative stunts, pyramids and gymnastics passes to secure their final score. Opening with a synchronized stunt formation and then transitioning into a pyramid, the Mustangs progressed into a complicated tumbling formation filled with flips and twists to impress not only the judges, but also the packed beach.
Focusing on their opening stunt sequence introduced with five heel stretches, turned into a scorpion and then arabesque, the cheerleaders hit their opening stunts perfectly to crush the competition.
Upon returning from Daytona, the cheerleaders and dancers were recognized by Rep. Dan Branch for their strong showmanship and presence at the competition. Branch also presented a flag to fly over the Texas Capitol to recognize the athletes for their hard work and dedication.
“The SMU Spirit Squads are an integral part of the rich history and tradition of the university,” said Branch in a media release. “It gives me great pride to know that, in the heart of Dallas, we have such dedicated and hard-working students that are dedicated to preserving this longtime SMU tradition.”
Head coach Zac Brannon was presented with a certificate in honor of his commitment to the program, and congratulatory letters were given to each member on both teams.
“SMU is considered the home of modern cheerleading,” said Brannon in a letter issued from Branch’s office. “Our cheer and dance programs are very proud of the results from nationals and appreciates the congratulations from Rep. Branch.”
