The UCF cheer team needs to make some room in their already stocked trophy case. The Knights just claimed their third UCA National Championship in program history.
Sunday night’s championship performance at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports marked the squad’s first national title in more than a decade. The program has now placed in the top 10 of the College Cheerleading National Championships 25 times in the last 27 years under head coach Linda Gooch ’85, including national titles in 2003 and 2007.
Orlando’s Hometown Team hit a stellar performance on Saturday during semifinals, putting them in first place heading into Sunday’s final round.
The Black and Gold were able to maintain the momentum when they hit the mat, solidifying their first-place position to take home the Division IA Cheer National Championship. They bested runner-up Alabama and 2019 defending national champion Kentucky.
“This was such a wonderful group to coach,” Gooch says. “They trusted our coaches and trusted each other. To be ranked No. 1 coming out of the semifinals and then to hang on to that top spot and win it all in the finals was incredible.”
Watch the Winning Routine
Last year, the Knights brought home the title in the Gameday Nationals Competition. Following that performance, three Knights went on to win gold with Team USA at the 2019 World Championships.
