ORLANDO, Fla.—The University of Hawai'i cheer team competed in the 2018 Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) College National Championships this past weekend at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. Hawai'i advanced after doing well in the semifinals and finished fifth in the Division IA Coed Championships.
The UH cheer squad performed a nearly flawless routine in the finals, but one side of their final pyramid did not quite make it up.
Fifth place is the highest finish for the Rainbows since 2006. The highest finish ever for UH at Nationals was third in 2005.
With the fifth place finish, the UH cheer team earned a full paid bid to next year's nationals.
"Between the semifinalss and the finals the team really worked hard and pulled together." explains head coach Mike Baker. "In the finals, there are a lot of things that I would have liked to have been cleaner and the ending of course, but the team really grabbed the crowd's attention early and kept them throughout our routine. I believe that the very positive reaction of the crowd insured us a spot in the Top 5. The team also nailed a few epic pieces of the routine. In all, we're ecstatic to receive a top 5 placing and relieved to have earned a paid bid for 2019."
The UCA Championships will air on ESPN in February 2018.
2018 UCA College National Results DIA
- Kentucky
- UCF
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- Hawai'i
- Washington State
- Ole Miss
- USF
- Western Kentucky
- Oklahoma
- Minnesota
- LSU
- Cincinnati
- Michigan State
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