Grand Canyon University won the Spirit Programs Game Day Live open division for the second straight year at the UCA/UDA College Cheerleading and Dance National Championships last weekend.
GCU bettered second-place Wake Forest University by 2.4 points in the event at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida.
Game Day Live featured Cheer, Dance, the Thundering Heard Pep Band and mascot Thunder in one performance, and that is right up GCU’s alley.
“This division allows us to showcase what we do best together, creating the best game-day environment for The Biggest Party in College Basketball,” said Jesi Weeks, senior manager of Spirit Programs.
She said several in the crowd were so impressed they “approached our teams, saying our performance left a lasting impression on them. The way our teams work together is very unique, and that’s what makes us so special.”
Camryn Caraballo of GCU’s Cheer squad told Varsity Spirit that the Game Day Live category is fun because all the squads that make up the Spirit Programs don’t often get a chance to perform together except for at games.
“It’s another way to spend time with our whole family and share in the love,” she said.
GCU did well in other competitions, led by the Dance team’s fourth place in Division 1 hip hop and sixth place in Division 1 jazz out of 38 teams.
GCU Cheer finished sixth in Division 1 small coed.
Thunder finished third in the open mascot division.
Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen can be reached at [email protected]
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