Cheerleaders continue streak as UCA Small Coed Division II national champs.

The streak is alive and well for Wilmington University’s cheerleaders. They captured their seventh consecutive national championship on Jan. 13 after competing in the 2018 Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) Small Coed Division II competition at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

The Wildcats first won a national championship in 2012 and haven’t lost since. For the second consecutive year, they needed to advance through a preliminary round and place in the top six teams before performing their routine again for the national championship.

It wasn’t an issue. The defending champions defeated Drury University, Kutztown University, St. Edward’s University, San Francisco State University and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

The competition started as a pair of stunt groups qualified to compete at the national championships as well. The partner stunt duo of Wendy Mayerson and Jona Marrero qualified as one of 15 pairs to earn invitations. They finished 12th overall, and teams from Sam Houston State University, Texas Tech University and the University of Central Florida finished first, second and third, respectively.

After their entry tapes were reviewed, the stunt group of Kristen Basquill, Maranda Moreland, MaKayla Moreland and Ciana perez qualified seventh overall out of the 12 groups invited. Two teams from the University of West Georgia finished first and second, while a group from the University of Louisville finished third in the all-girls stunt group event.

A review of the 2018 Universal Cheerleading Association and Universal Dance Association’s national championships was aired on ESPN. WU

—Dan Lauletta