Photo provided North cheerleaders compete at the 2024 Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) National High School Cheerleading Championship at Disney World.
The Columbus North Bull Dogs Cheer Squad placed seventh in the nation’s preeminent high school cheerleading competition this past weekend in Florida.
The 2024 Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) National High School Cheerleading Championship was held at Disney World in Orlando from Feb. 9 to Feb. 12 where more than 1,000 teams from across the country came to compete.
North and East both sent teams after qualifying back in October due to their respective performances at the UCA Ohio Regional.
North competed in Medium Varsity Non Tumbling Division 1 Game Day, made up of 27 teams.
“It’s so hard to get to the finals and the girls significantly improved throughout the weekend,” said North Coach Sarah Frasier. “They showed a lot of resilience and grit throughout the competition. They worked extremely hard and we couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The Olympians, coming off a semifinal birth in last year’s competition, were unable to advance past the preliminary round this year. East competed in one of the largest Game Day divisions with a total of 52 teams, many of whom had placed in the top five in the last few years, Coach Hannah Moore said.
“Our East girls went out and performed one of their best routines We are so proud of what they put on the mat,” Moore said. “They hit everything and we had zero deductions. The girls gave it their all and represented East so well!”
Moore said when they received their scores, the Olympians received some effusive comments, along with some she thought were questionable and contradictory to what the team had received from the UCA Regional Competition.
“It is hard when you don’t always agree with the judges, but in the end we can’t change their opinions,” Moore said. “As a coach, one of the hardest things for me was realizing that it was the last time our seniors would be on the nationals mat all together. They have lead this team so well and wanted it so bad. They left everything on the mat and it was hard to see them upset. I am so proud to be their coach, I am proud of how hard they have worked this season and I am proud of their performance!”
