Page 64 - WilmU Spring Summer 2013

Heading into the final routine
in first place, the Wilmington
University cheerleading squad
hit its routine one last time to
secure its second straight Small
Coed Division II National Championship at
the 2013 Universal Cheerleading Association
and Universal Dance Association College
Cheerleading and Dance Team National
Championship this past weekend.
Performing first for the judges in the
final round, the Wildcats stuck their final
performance to beat out Columbus State
University, Slippery Rock University,
University of Southern Indiana and Colorado
Mesa University to capture their second
straight national championship.
“Expectations for this year’s team were sky
high a er last year’s championship season,”
sixth-year head coach Jeff Martino said
following the performance. “With a talented
new group of freshmen backed by some
great veterans, this routine had the potential
to be the best yet. With three amazing
performances we proved to be the best
team in the country.”
Before the team competition rounded out
the college national championship weekend,
three Wildcat groups also competed in the
Partner Stunt finals. Previously qualifying to
earn a spot in the National Championship
finals, Amanda Endico , Alexis Hazel,
Mary Alexander and Gabby Ma era
performed in the All Girls Finals while
Brad Gilbert, Natalie Spiker, David Bellew
and Ariel Ellixson challenged for the Coed
Championship.
The duo of Bellew and Ellixson turned
in the best performance of the day, coming
in seventh place overall. Gilbert and Spiker
earned enough points to finish in 15th place
against 19 other partners who earned a spot
at the finals. The all-girl group placed eighth
overall against mostly Division I schools.
Martino concluded, “Ashley [assistant
coach Ashley Mundy] and I are so proud
of the team and all of their hard work. We
would also like to thank the administration
for all of their love and support to make the
experience possible.” WU
Back toBack: Cheerleaders capture second
straight National Championship
BY DAN LAULETTA
WUsports
WILMINGTON UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE