Needing one more perfect routine Sunday night in the finals, the UCF cheerleading team delivered another fantastic performance to win the 2024 Division 1A Coed Cheer National Championship at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex.
The Knights claimed their fourth national title in the event and first since 2020, after also earning the top spot in 2007 and 2003. UCF won the 2019 crown in the gameday division.
After recording the highest score in the semifinals on Saturday to earn the right to perform last on Sunday, the Knights rose to the occasion in front of the hometown crowd to secure the national championship with a 97.3 event score, ahead of second-place Alabama (96.8) and Kentucky (95.4).
UCF was one of only two teams to hit its routine on Saturday and one of just four to hit in Sunday’s finals.
The Knights’ spirit program continues to make history under head coach Linda Gooch ’85.
Not only were the Knights successful in cheer, but UCF’s dance team placed fifth in the hip hop competition, which is the best finish in program history. The Black and Gold (90.6349) finished ahead of Florida State (89.1270) to hold the title of the best team in the state in the event.
Additionally, UCF also finished among the top 10 in the jazz finals with a 92.4444.
UCF and LSU were the only two programs to advance to the finals in coed cheer, jazz and hip hop.
