The Lee University Cheerleading team recently returned to the Universal Cheerleading Association National Championship hosted annually in Orlando, Fla.
 
This year Nationals was held at the ESPN center in Disney World. Disney was flooded with over 200 cheerleading teams competing in a variety of divisions. Among these teams include some of the greats: University of Kentucky, University of Alabama, etc. who are admired for their flawless execution of difficult skills in the cheerleading world. Lee has participated in this event since 2015, but this is the first time they have ever made it to finals.
 
"Hard work and dedication are words that do not even begin to describe what all goes into this weekend, said coach Jessica Frazier. "Starting near the end of September the team endures choreography camp, organized and led by members of the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) staff. The members guide the squad through what should be incorporated in a two-minute and thirty-second routine to perform well at Nationals.
 
"They experiment with action packed stunt sequences, complicated pyramids, exploding baskets, and powerful tumbling. The weekend is not without its risks, however, and the fact that cheerleading is ranked No. 2 in catastrophic injuries is proven true when two members of the team receive concussions.
 
"Following the first initial injury comes a series of sprains, hyperextensions, more concussions, and muscle tears, " added coach Frazier "One would think that when damage like this persists, especially with the competition being less than a month away, that it would be impossible to make a comeback, impossible to succeed—yet, that is precisely what happened. Not only did our cheerleaders overcome their trials, they used them as stepping stools to rise with fiery determination to earn a fifth-place finish, an all-time high!"
 
Going into the Nationals the Lee team was scored on a crowd highlight video—a video that incorporates all that the cheerleaders do on and off the mat— that counted for 15 percent of their score. During the actual routine, they were judged on the difficulty and execution of the following: partner stunts, group stunts, baskets, cheer, and overall effectiveness of their performance. They made it to finals for the first time in Lee cheerleading history, placing third going in, and coming out of the finals as fifth-best in the nation— a record-ranking for the team.
 
"Senior, Alex Amspaugh sums up the experience saying, "This program has come so far and has changed my life completely. It's more than just going in and performing our cheer routine to the judges. It's making a memory as a team that has given me a new meaning of a family. We go in together and push our hardest while expecting the greatest, and it's the best feeling to know what we accomplished together. It shows that we can accomplish anything!"
 
 Coach Frazier praised her squad, "This team has worked so hard and come so far. They deserved every bit of what the weekend offered. Yes, we had our struggles and set backs, but that was not going to stop us from doing what we love.
 
"I am beyond proud of this team and how they represented Lee University for the third time on the national stage."
 
 The cheerleading program wishes to return to the stage every year. If you would like to help or get involved with this program please feel free to contact Coach Frazier, jfrazier@leeuniversity.edu.