UD Spirit Program Hoists Up Three National Titles
1/17/2023
Bring the total up to 27 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Delaware Blue Hens Spirit program showed off their Blue & Gold pride at the coveted 2023 UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dace Team National Championship at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Fla. Jan. 13-15. The Blue Hens headed to the Sunshine State set to defend their Small Coed Game Day Division and Division I Hip Hop titles and they did not disappoint.
It was déjà vu for Coed Cheer, led by head coaches Ryan Blanford and Kirby Lynch, as they headed into the finals in third place for the second-consecutive year and turned up national champs for the fifth-straight year in the Small Coed Game Day Division.
This weekend was an overall great success for the program and can’t be any happier with what we put out there. Not only winning a national championship but for the fifth straight time. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to a great season.Alyssa Markey, Coed Cheer Team captain
I couldn’t have asked for anything more for my last time competing at nationals. This team has put in the work all year long to hit our routine and bring a fifth ring back to Delaware. Couldn’t be prouder of this program.Sara Nastasi, All Girl Cheer Team Captain
Dance, led by head coach Risa Snapp, finished the semis in fifth place and then followed up with a dynamic hip hop performance that helped them hoist up their seventh Division I Hip Hop national championship. Dance also competed in the Division I Jazz category and captured fifth place, which was an improvement from last year's sixth-place finish.
This year's nationals was one that our team will never forget. Coming out of semis in fifth for Division I Hip Hop, we were given the option to make some major changes or leave the routine as we’ve been practicing for months. This team stepped up to the challenge with full confidence in ourselves and each other and made the choice to risk it all. We worked together, gave every last ounce of energy into our finals performance, and stayed united as a family to come out in first. I couldn’t be prouder of this team, our amazing coaches, and our genius choreographers. This team will hold a special place in our hearts forever.Ashlynn Widger, Dance Team Captain
The University of Delaware Dance Team became Division I Hip Hop national champions for the second year in a row this weekend. After discussing judge feedback from their semifinal performance, this group of talented young women took a risk and made changes in their hip hop routine the night before their finals performance. The risk resulted in reward when they valiantly won the national championship title!Risa Snapp, Dance Team Head Coach
The shining moment came in the Open Mascot category. YoUDee, led by head coach Chad Mills, was determined to improve from last year's runner-up performance. YoUDee showed the Orlando fans what UD fans already knew, that it was “the best bird in the land”, and claimed its ninth national championship.
I had an amazing time down in Orlando winning my ninth mascot national championship! This performance was a HUGE team effort and I could not have done it without the support from Baby Blue and my Blue Hen family! Nothing better than cheering on the UD Spirit Program and taking home three gold medals! I love nationals but I am happy to be back in the 302.YoUDee
Mascots this year worked tirelessly to put together their national award-winning skit. This amazing experience has brought the team even closer together. With the amazing success that they have seen at this year‘s nationals performance, they look forward to competing next year. Being the nation’s best Mascot in the open division, has a great ring to it!Chad Mills, Mascot Team Head Coach
Coed Cheer also competed in the Cheer Division I and finished in fourth place while head coach Kirby Lynch led the all girl cheer team to a fourth-place finish in All Girl Division I Cheer.
So proUD we were able to showcase our traditions and skills this weekend. These teams have put in the time and sweat and deserve all the praise for their hard work!Kirby Lynch, All Girl Cheer Team Head Coach
The University of Delaware All Girl team performed and successfully completed the hardest routine UD has put out in the All Girl Division I competition. This particular group of athletes pushed from good to great. The bond on the team is something so powerful that no one could break. Our fourth-place finish may not be something we necessarily desired, however the bond, the performance, the hard work, was all worth it. This weekend UD left its mark. We showed the world how we do Delaware, and Delaware is great.Kayla Wunder, All Girl Cheer Team Captain
This team has grown a lot just within this year. With a team that seemed to have more new people than returners, we still performed at a high level and brought home a national championship. While I am happy for my teams’ efforts and hard work this weekend, I still have one more year and my mental focus continues to be on improving and growing this team to win more championships.Zanthius Sullivan, Coed Team Captain
For the first time since 2018, Delaware competed in the Girls “4” Group Stunt category and finished in sixth place.
Four UD athletes were picked to compete in the partner stunt division. Not only did these particular athletes compete in Gameday and Traditional, but they also set aside time for extra practices to work together and successfully put together a routine we were proUD of. Going into finals last in the division, this group of athletes competed against the best stunters in the country and managed to jump three spots and secure a sixth-place finish. These athletes put Delaware’s name out there and all of their hard work paid off.Kayla Wunder, All Girl Cheer Team Captain
2023 marks the 17th straight year that the Delaware Spirit program has brought back a national championship to Newark. Overall, the Blue Hen spirit teams have won 27 national championships (10 from cheer, eight from dance and nine from mascot).
The amount of Blue Hen pride I have from this year’s nationals is overwhelming. Cheer, Dance, and Mascot are bringing home a national championship; something we haven’t done since 2019 and only the second time in UD history. We are blessed to have such great student-athletes, coaches and support staff to make accomplishments like this possible.Ryan Blanford, Spirit Program Coordinator & Coed Cheer Team Head Coach
If you’d like to support our spirit program student-athletes in honor of our cheer, dance, or mascot national championships, click here to make a gift!
