UCA

The GCU Cheer team earned its best finish ever — second place in the Division I Game Day event — Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships at Orlando, Fla. “The biggest thing is GCU made a name for ourselves and we really stood out,’’ co-captain Casey Traut said. “We had someone tell us that we started a legacy for this school.”

The GCU Spirit team’s ability to fire up the crowd will be the key to the Game Day competition in the Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships, which begin Friday in Orlando, Fla. The Dance team also will compete in a traditional favorite, the Jazz event, and the Cheer team will show its athleticism in the small Co-ed Division I event. Also, Thunder and the drum line are participating in a demonstration of spirited and rhythmic collaboration.