UD co-ed cheerleading team captures second straight national title

9:09 a.m., Jan. 20, 2015--It was another impressive showing for the University of Delaware spirit teams as the co-ed cheerleading team captured its second straight national title at the Universal Cheerleaders Association and Universal Dance Association championships held Jan. 16-18 at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

In addition to the national title, UD also received outstanding performances from its other spirit teams as mascot YoUDee finished second in the mascot open division; the dance team finished second in both the Division I jazz and hip-hop competitions; the team of Aston Dommel and Jackie Fabricatore finished ninth in the partner stunt-coed division; and the team of Nicole Chinn, Angela Trozzi, Jenna Krasley and Izzy Debnam finished ninth in the partner stunt girls 4 division. 

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“Before we left for Orlando, we had one goal -- to hit a clean routine,” said Rob Ellery, UD Athletics spirit coordinator and head cheer coach. “We had great preparation and on Saturday night we put out our best performance yet. I couldn’t be happier. The team came together and trusted one another. They showed poise, patience, and complete confidence, which was crucial to our success.”

In addition to Ellery, the UD spirit coaching contingent includes cheerleading assistant coach Gillian Guadagnino, dance team head coach Nicole Zehnder and mascot head coach Chad Mills.

In the Division I co-ed competition, UD took first place ahead of Morehead State, Wichita State, Belmont, Missouri State, Tennessee-Chattanooga and Northwestern (La.) State in the seven-team field. 

In the mascot open division, YoUDee finished second behind Tennessee Tech’s Awesome Eagle and ahead of Villanova’s Will D Cat, Auburn-Montgomery’s Curtiss the Warhawk and Tennessee Tech’s Grandpappy.

YoUDee, a member of the Mascot Hall of Fame, won national titles in the event in 2002, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013. 

In the dance jazz competition, UD came in second behind champion California State-Fullerton and ahead of Hofstra, Southeastern Louisiana and Long Beach State in the 10-team field. 

In the dance hip-hop competition, UD placed second behind Saint Joseph’s (Pa.) and ahead of Southeastern Louisiana, St. John’s, Hofstra and College of Charleston in the six-team field.

The Blue Hens won national titles in the hip-hop category in 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

In the partner stunt-coed division, UD finished ninth overall. Sam Houston State took first place, followed by Morehead State, Memphis, Georgia and Wilmington University in the top five. 

In the partner stunt girls 4 division, UD finished ninth overall. Hofstra took first place, followed by Morehead State, Columbus State, Colorado and West Georgia in the top five.