UD Spirit Program Standout at Nationals, Brings Home Small Coed Game Day And Hip Hop Dance Titles
1/20/2022
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Delaware Blue Hens competed at the coveted 2022 UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando Jan. 14-16.
The Blue Hens entered the championships as the heavy favorite after winning the national championship in three consecutive years (2019-21). Heading into the finals in third place, Delaware was able to show its blue & gold spirit and put together a dynamic performance in the finals to earn their fourth-straight national title in the Small Coed Game Day Division.
?? #proUD to be bringing the 2022 Small Coed Game Day Championship home to Newark! ??? #BlueHens #WeCanWeWill #Commit pic.twitter.com/zs733fqP9l
— UDBlueHenCheer (@UDBlueHenCheer) January 15, 2022
Our team specifically this year is a very special team. With all the hard times and setbacks that came with COVID, we were able to grow as a team and learned how to push forward with anything that got in our way. Becoming national champions in the game day division for the fourth year in a row showed our commitment and growth as a team. Our coed traditional team came in third place as a very new team. Overall, we were able to leave nationals being proud of both of our routines and knowing we left everything on the mat.Alyssa Markey, Coed Cheer Team Captain
Head Coach Ryan Blanford led the coed cheer team to a third-place finish for the second-straight year in Cheer Division I while head coach Kirby Lynch led the all girl cheer team to a third-place finish in All Girl Division I Cheer.
YoUDee improved from last year's sixth place performance to second place in the mascot category.
All Girl Cheer finishes third at ?@UCAupdates? Nationals!! ????#WeCanWeWill #BlueHens pic.twitter.com/BeUEW1q7Vo
— UDBlueHenCheer (@UDBlueHenCheer) January 15, 2022
Finishing up UCA Nationals with a third place finish in D1 Coed Cheer! ?? #BlueHens #proUD #WeCanWeWill #Commit pic.twitter.com/IJilK4qwMN
— UDBlueHenCheer (@UDBlueHenCheer) January 16, 2022
So #proUD of @YoUDee00 bringing home the ??in the Mascot National Championship! #BlueHens ???? pic.twitter.com/BH80mvrgB1
— UDBlueHenCheer (@UDBlueHenCheer) January 15, 2022
This past weekend was something truly special and so is this team. We have come together as one program to overcome all the challenges thrown our way this year. We worked so hard to make these routines something to remember and we are extremely proud with what we put out on the floor this weekend. With two third place finishes and our fourth consecutive game day title, I want to thank our coaches, our athletic department, our alumni, our family and friends for all their dedication and support throughout this year. It’s humbling to know we helped build upon the legacy that is Delaware Cheer and we hope it only continues to grow from here.Shannon Leahy, All Girl Cheer Team Captain
The pride and dedication these student-athletes have for the University of Delaware and their teammates is exceptional. Through all the trials and tribulations the pandemic has brought, they always trusted the process and gave their all.Kirby Lynch, All Girl Cheer Team Head Coach
The UD Mascot Team did a great job preparing, practicing and performing for nationals. Baby Blue, during cheer's Game Day routine, which placed first overall, showed spunk and school spirit. YoUDee, placing second, did an outstanding job, at the highest level and gave the audience quite a show!Chad Mills, Mascot Team Head Coach
Dance, led by head coach Risa Snapp, competed in two categories this year, Division I Jazz and Division I Hip Hop. Looking to bounce back from last year's runner-up performance, the Blue Hens prevailed by dominating throughout the weekend and hoisted up their sixth national championship in the Division I Hip Hop category. The Blue & Gold finished captured sixth place in Division I Jazz.
Huge congratulations to ?@udbluehendance_? on their D1 Hip Hop National Championship!!! ?? #proUD #BlueHens pic.twitter.com/boWyLefThc
— UDBlueHenCheer (@UDBlueHenCheer) January 17, 2022
I am beyond proud of this team for representing the University of Delaware as national champions this past weekend at UDA College Nationals. Family and unity are the two principles that this team values; and being able to bring our family to the stage and share our talent together is truly such a special feeling. To be ending my senior season doing what I love with who I love and bringing home a national championship for UD is so meaningful and rewarding. I am a big believer in the work is worth it and the dedication this team has put into this season shows how much passion and drive we have into pushing to be our best. To everyone that has helped us be where we are today, thank you for your endless support and believing in this team. As always, let’s go hens!!Taylor Waddell, Dance Team Captain
ProUD is an understatement to describe how I am feeling after this weekend. We had so many “wrenches” thrown our way before we left, but nothing could stop our family. The drive, perseverance, and focus from this group of student athletes are unmatched. Our motto this season was “locked in” and that mentality created champions on and off the stage. This weekend taught life lessons and gave memories that will both last forever.Risa Snapp, Dance Team Head Coach
2022 marks the 16th-straight year that the Delaware Spirit program has brought back a national championship to Newark. Overall, the Blue Hen spirit teams have won 24 national championships (nine from cheer, seven from dance and eight from mascot).
As spirit program coordinator, I am proud to see our student-athletes carry forward and build upon the legacy that is UD cheer, dance and mascot. Now with 24 championships, we have raised the bar even higher. It’s clear that nothing can stop this program from achieving success.Ryan Blanford, Spirit Program Coordinator & Coed Cheer Team Head Coach
With the cheer team, it was fun watching a team become a family. Myself, coach Kirby and coach Tony have built this team based on love. The student-athletes have embraced that concept and as a result will have memories that will last a lifetime.
When we say FAMILY is a core value… we mean it. ???? pic.twitter.com/JvVzg6V2uT
— UDBlueHenCheer (@UDBlueHenCheer) January 18, 2022
