2026 UCA College Cheerleading Nationals: Purdue, Providence, and Georgetown Highlights

Purdue and Other Colleges Compete at 2026 UCA College Cheerleading National Championship in Orlando

Hundreds of college teams are competing at the 2026 United Cheer Association (UCA) College Nationals at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Purdue University is sending two teams, aiming for top finishes following previous successful seasons. Other notable participants include Providence College, which placed seventh in Small Coed Division I, and Georgetown College, which won its first national championship in the Open Small Coed Game Day Division.

The championship is a major event for collegiate cheerleading, featuring teams from various divisions based on school size and team style, with difficulty and execution heavily weighted in judging. Purdue’s all-girls team and small coed team face strong competition, especially from southern schools like Alabama and Tennessee known for cheerleading excellence. Georgetown’s victory marks a historic first national title for their program.

Key Points - Purdue University fields two teams at the 2026 UCA College Nationals, targeting top five placement in their divisions. - Teams qualify for nationals mainly through attendance at UCA camps and compete in divisions defined by team size and school classification. - Providence College placed seventh in the Small Coed Division I finals, marking their fourth consecutive year advancing to finals. - Georgetown College won its first-ever national championship in the Open Small Coed Game Day Division, scoring 89.66 in finals. - The UCA College Nationals showcase the highest difficulty skills and teamwork in collegiate cheerleading, streamed on Varsity TV and FloSports.

Background on UCA College Nationals

The United Cheer Association (UCA) College Nationals is the largest collegiate cheerleading competition in the United States, hosted annually at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. It attracts hundreds of teams from colleges nationwide to showcase advanced routines judged on difficulty, execution, creativity, and overall performance.

Teams qualify primarily by attending UCA camps during the year, where they are scored with the same criteria used at nationals. Different divisions compete based on team composition and school size, such as All-Girl Division 1A for larger schools’ all-girl teams, Small Coed Division for smaller coed squads, and Open Small Coed Game Day Division.

Purdue University’s Participation and Goals

Purdue University is represented by two cheer squads at this year’s nationals: an all-girls team competing in the highly competitive Division 1A, and a small coed team participating in the Small Coed Division. The all-girls team finished seventh last year, the best in program history, and aims to break into the top five this year.

Sophomore flyer Taylor Sexton expressed optimism about the program’s progress, noting increased routine difficulty and excitement about building on last year’s success. Sophomore side base Sarah Kelley highlighted the preference within the team for competition routines over sideline cheering at football games, emphasizing the focus on national event performance.

Purdue’s small coed team, consisting of four men on the mat, competes against similar sized schools such as Bowling Green. Historically, Purdue’s small coed program is strong, with a national championship in 2018 and consistent top-five finishes over the past decade.

This year, Purdue is sending about 50 members, ensuring wider participation compared to the previous year when injuries limited attendance.

Providence College Maintains Strong National Presence

The Providence College cheerleading team continued its strong showing at nationals with a seventh-place finish in the Small Coed Division I. This marks the program’s fourth consecutive year advancing to the finals round.

Head Coach Melissa DiMicco praised the team’s effort and progression throughout the season, highlighting the most difficult routine in program history performed with energy and pride. The team’s consistency at nationals demonstrates its place among the elite collegiate cheer programs.

Georgetown College’s First National Championship

Making headlines at the 2026 UCA Nationals, Georgetown College won its first national title in school history by capturing the Open Small Coed Game Day Division championship.

After placing second in semifinals behind Coastal Alabama Community College, the Tigers improved their score to 89.66 in the finals, surpassing all competitors. Head coach Joanie Lake attributed the victory to rigorous adjustments and passion shown by the athletes.

Key contributors included six graduating seniors who played pivotal roles throughout the season. Senior athlete Isaac Harder described hearing the team name announced as national champions as a surreal moment validating the team’s hard work and dedication.

Georgetown’s victory highlights the growth of their cheer program and sets the stage for their upcoming NAIA competitive season, beginning in February 2026.

Competition Structure and Scoring

The UCA Nationals structure involves multiple rounds where team scores reset each day. After the semifinal performances, judges select approximately 50% to advance to finals. Teams are evaluated on a detailed scorecard that heavily weighs difficulty, execution, staging, and overall impression.

The divisions cover a range of team types: - All-Girls Division 1A, featuring larger-sized schools’ all-girl teams. - Small Coed Division, for teams with smaller coed rosters. - Open Small Coed Game Day Division, which includes teams competing with game day-style routines.

Strong competition particularly comes from schools in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which has secured six of the past ten all-girls division championships, including University of Mississippi in 2025.

Importance of UCA College Nationals

UCA College Nationals is regarded as the pinnacle competition for collegiate cheerleading programs, showcasing athletes’ hardest skills and most polished routines on a national stage. Success at this event elevates program status, aids recruitment, and fosters team motivation.

Teams like Purdue, Providence, and Georgetown demonstrate varying stages of program development and achievement. The competition also serves as an opportunity for cheerleading athletes to perform at elite levels and advance the sport’s prominence within collegiate athletics.

Upcoming Events

Following nationals, teams like Georgetown College will continue their competitive seasons in NAIA and other collegiate leagues, with events such as the Wildcat Weekend scheduled for February 2026. Their performances at UCA Nationals provide momentum heading into these future competitions.

This overview highlights the key developments at the 2026 UCA College Cheerleading National Championship, focusing on Purdue University’s participation, Providence College’s continuing excellence, and Georgetown College’s historic national victory.