ORLANDO – The Jones College cheer squad brought home the 2021 national championship in the Open Coed division of the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) competition Wednesday night.

The Bobcats claimed the title by besting 13-time champion Shelton State and Iowa Western. The Bucs had won the division every year since 2007.

"It's an indescribable feeling when you finally get to live in the moment that you've always dreamed about with your brothers and sisters," sophomore Chloe Rigdon said. "I'll never forget thanking God as a team as soon as first place was announced."

Kayla Hankins is in her 10th year coaching at Jones and ninth as the head coach. Hankins and the Bobcats returned to competition in Orlando in 2013 and had come close to winning their division several times.

Jones placed third in 2018, and second in both 2019 and 2020, before breaking through last night.

"Nothing compares to the way we felt when they called Jones College's name for first place," sophomore Madelyn Pace said. "The moment of celebration is something I will always cherish and never forget. God really blessed us this year and we are so thankful."

"It's an amazing feeling when you get announced a national champion," sophomore Logan Terwilliger said. "All the pain from the hard work just disappears and you have the time of your life with the people you love the most."
 

Team	Raw Score	Ded.	Perf.	Event Score
Jones College	86.9	11	75.9	81
Shelton State	90.1	5	85.1	79.7
Iowa Western	84.7	6	78.7	73.9