ELLISVILLE – The Jones College cheerleaders are experts when it comes to performing routines.
 
Now, it's becoming routine for the Bobcats to win championships.
 
Jones won its second consecutive national championship in the UCA College Nationals Open Coed Division Saturday at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
 
"We won our first national championship last year, but it was a different year because of Covid," said Jones cheer coach Kayla Hankins on Wednesday morning. "It was not a normal setting. There was a lot of pressure on this team going in to the competition. But they went down there, they dominated, had a great semifinals and had a hit in finals and brought the national championship home to Ellisville."
 
The Bobcats had to compete against Iowa Western and Shelton State (Alabama) over the weekend. Hankins said Jones was at a slight disadvantage because of having to perform their routine back-to-back.
 
"Unlike any other team down there, we had to do our two performances on the same day," she said. "Within hours, you have semifinals and gather your scoresheets from the judges and look at their feedback. You then look at any improvements you can do to be prepared to make for finals in three or four hours."
 
Madelyn Pace was a member of both championship squads.
 
"It was extremely exciting," said Pace, a sophomore from Petal. "I feel like, as a team, we were disciplined and ready to get that national title. It was a good experience. I was glad to have the freshmen be able to get their first national title and hope they do it again next year."
 
Hankins said her squad has been dedicated since day one to repeating as national champions.
 
"This is a talented group of kids," she said. "They just bought in to the program. Our slogan is "Do Your Job." You come in here, be disciplined, be focused and just do your job – not only in cheer, but as an athlete and becoming a better, overall person. That's what these kids do. They had a mindset, they had a goal and they did their job."
 
In 2021, UCA Nationals were pushed back to April because of Covid. Normally, the competition is held each January.
 
The sophomores on the Jones' squad went straight from winning the title last spring, to taking just one week off, having tryouts in May, going to camp at Mississippi State and trying to get back to normal in the fall.
 
During the season, the squad practices three hours a day each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in addition to workouts twice a week. So, the students put in five days each week for cheerleading.
 
"We do practice a lot," Pace said. "Right after we get out of class, we head straight here (D.O. Thoms P.E. Building) and start practicing. Even when we are not in the gym, we are outside getting those reps in."
 
Hankins added that her squad maximized its effort in preparing for nationals.
 
"There are no words to explain how proud I am of them," she said. "They have done everything we have asked of them. They have bought in, they've been disciplined and they have taken care of business. More than just winning a national championship, our team GPA was a 3.0 for the semester and that just tells you that they are all around great students.
 
"I am super proud and excited for everything that they did for me, but also to represent Jones College."
 
Now, the Jones College cheer squad looks to begin preparing for a busy spring season with clinics and tryouts over the next several months.
 
2021-22 JONES COLLEGE CHEERLEADERS
Sophomores
Zack Alleman (Pearl), Lily Baker (Northwest Rankin), Azlyn Dollar (D'Iberville), Cole Dueitt (Saraland, Alabama), Joy Nicole Fendley (Germantown), Max Housman (Paducah, Kentucky), Xavius Jones (Bartow, Florida), Lance Kidd (Daphne, Alabama), KJ Mackeroy (Bartow, Florida), Julian Melancon (Lafayette, Louisiana), Madelyn Pace (Petal), Mollie Potter (Madison-Ridgeland Academy), Will Rushing (Newbern, Tennessee), Jathan Watson (West Harrison).
 
Freshmen
Micah Broome (Harrison Central), Bailey Collums (Northwest Rankin), Elijah Garcia (Homeland, Florida), Kaliyah Jones (Enterprise-Lincoln), Raelyn Maddux (Apison, Tennessee), Kadin Pohlmann (Poplarville), Gilbert Puerto (Sumrall), Hannah Shoemaker (St. Martin), Ryan Sullivan (Hudson, Florida), Grayson Weathersby (Florence), Hope Weathersby (Oak Grove).