Dominating the Competition: HBCU Cheer Squads Shine at NCA Nationals
At the 2024 National Cheerleader Association (NCA) & National Dance Alliance (NDA) College National Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida, HBCU cheer squads left an indelible mark on the competition, sweeping home national titles and securing top scores.
North Carolina A&T, Morgan State University, and Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) emerged as the standout performers, showcasing the exceptional talent and dedication of HBCU cheerleaders.
North Carolina A&T: Reigning Champions in the Intermediate Small Coed Division
North Carolina A&T departed Daytona as the 2024 NCA College National Champions in the Intermediate Small Coed Division, finishing with a final event score of 97.6412. This title follows the squad’s historic 2023 appearance as the first team from the university to compete in the prestigious NCA & NDA College National Championship.
“We put a lot of effort and work into preparing for nationals. We practiced literally every day of the week,” said co-captain Alivia Barrow. “It’s really rewarding to be able to put in that work and to represent Greensboro and to represent A&T the way we do.”
Morgan State University: Cheer Bears Claim Second Place in All-Girl Intermediate Division
Morgan State University Cheer made a significant impact, clinching a remarkable second-place finish in the All-Girl Intermediate Division finals with an event score of 95.5463, narrowly trailing behind California Baptist University.
Head coach Theresa Coleman-Gibson and coach Marquis Johnson expressed their pride in the Cheer Bears’ performance, stating, “Since the Cheer Bears finished second after Day 1, ultimately we knew we were within reach of that first place position.
Coach Quis (Marquis Johnson) made adjustments to the routine and had the ladies make some necessary corrections, which brought us closer to that dream.”
Xavier University of Louisiana: Capturing the Advanced Large Coed NAIA Division Title
Fresh off a second-place win at NAIA nationals in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) continued its winning streak, outscoring Westcliff 91.3375 to 89.7166 to secure the NCA title in the Advanced Large Coed NAIA division.
This victory marks the university’s second national title since the squad attained varsity status, making it the first sports team at XULA to win an NAIA-sponsored national title.
“What a wonderful way to end our season,” XULA’s head coach Glenn Caston said. “The resilience and determination that this team has shown is unmatched. This team will never be assembled again, yet it will motivate all future XULA cheerleaders to keep striving for excellence.”
