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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Weber State claimed two national championships at the 2017 NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championships last week in Daytona Beach. The Wildcat cheer squad won the Division I Coed Cheer national title and the dance team claimed its first national title, winning the Hip Hop Division I trophy.
The cheer squad, with the help of its longtime coach Summer Willis, received its third national title in six years with a score of 97.80. This is Willis’ 17th year with Weber State. “The quest has always been to hit a deduction-free routine, so that was our goal,” she said. When they accomplished that goal, Willis described it as surreal. “I kind of lost my mind for a second,” she said. The last time the Wildcat cheer team won a national title was in 2009.
The next day, the Wildcat dance team went out and did the same thing — a win for the whole program. It was the first time in Weber State history that the dance team, under the direction of coach Michelle Faulk, has won a national title. It was a major feat for the dance team because of injuries that happened just a few weeks before nationals.
“The main priority is the university and school involvement, and that takes up a big portion of time, but then to be national champions on top of that, it takes a lot to make it,” Willis said. It is important that her athletes know that they are capable of so much more that they think, and a lot of time and effort goes into being physically ready, she said. It is a year-round thing.
The NCA/NDA Cheer and Dance Championship is the largest collegiate championship, and teams have to be at a certain level to even make it there, she said. “It is owed up to a lot of hard work and dedication.
“It was pure joy, lots of happiness and excitement for our program,” Willis said. The event will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network. Check local listings for an official announcement.
