This is the ninth straight year Texas Tech has placed in the top five spots.
Texas Tech University's spirit squads competed in the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) and National Dance Association (NDA) collegiate championship over the weekend in Daytona Beach, Florida. This is the ninth straight year Texas Tech has placed in the top five spots.
Texas Tech's co-ed cheerleading team placed second in the Division 1A category, and the pom squad placed fourth in the Division 1A hip-hop category and seventh in the Division 1A open category.
“This year was by far the best we have ever performed at nationals,” said Stephanie Rhode, director of the Spirit Program. “Although we didn't quite get the results we wanted, I am so proud of our teams. I'm already looking forward to start planning for next year.”
The cheerleading team came in second by only 0.05 points, scoring a 96.80 following Oklahoma State University, which scored a 96.85.
Head cheer coach Bruce Bills said this year's performance was one of the best he has ever seen by Texas Tech.
“I'm so proud of Texas Tech Cheer,” he said. “They did an excellent job representing Texas Tech all year long, especially on the national stage. This year was an unbelievable experience, and I'm so honored to coach such a great team.”
The pom squad competed in the hip-hop and open categories for the second year, finishing fourth for hip-hop and seventh for open. Texas Tech Pom followed Brigham Young University (first in both categories), the University of Louisville and the University of Missouri, all with very close scores.
Head pom squad coach Erin Harold said these two categories are extremely competitive, and she is very proud of how the pom squad performed.
“Pom performed so well in Daytona,” she said. “I couldn't have asked them to do any better than what they did. They were incredibly calm and worked so well together. I've never felt so relaxed going into the performances, and I know they felt the same way. Regardless of the scoring outcome, I couldn't be any prouder of their performance and how they represented Texas Tech. We improved each day, and it makes me so excited for the upcoming season.”
Last year, the pom squad finished fifth in the hip-hop category and third in the open category.
To see the cheer and pom squads' performances, go to the Varsity website. Videos are split into their respective categories.
For more information and updates about the Texas Tech Spirit Program, please visit its website or follow Texas Tech Cheer (Facebook, Twitter) and Pom (Facebook, Twitter) on social media.
