From Friday, Jan. 13 to Sunday, Jan. 15, Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s cheerleading team earned the First Place award in the Coed Game Day Division at the University World Cup Championship.

Daniel Wellmeier, a junior communication major, participated in the competition with his fellow cheerleaders. Wellmeier is in his third year on the team and is proud of his team for this accomplishment.

The cheer squad has prepared relentlessly since November. The team arrived at the venue of the competition early Thursday morning, and competed for the finals position on Friday. The team competed on Saturday, and competed with vigor on Sunday.

“We came back with a vengeance,” Wellmeier said.

The team performed their routine flawlessly and received their highest score of the weekend.

Adonis Hurrington, a freshman health and exercise science major in his first year in the team, was excited to receive the award. “I was very excited to show everyone our routine we worked so hard to get perfect. When we won the award, I was ecstatic because all the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears everyone on the team put into this one routine paid off,” he said.

Honor Camus, a health and exercise science major, is also a first-year member of the team. She was very proud to receive the award and is excited to continue working hard with her teammates. “This team is my family here at college,” Camus said. “We are already back to stunting at NFA and will be back at practice this Friday. I cannot wait to see what this program can accomplish next year!”

The team was presented with a plaque on Monday, Jan. 23 at the Natchitoches City Council meeting to honor their hard work.