Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s cheerleading and Purple Pizzazz Pom Line teams took the national stage Jan. 16-17, representing NSU at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and Universal Dance Association (UDA) nationals, hosted at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.
NSU cheerleading has found continued success at the national level. In recent years, the team has finished top five in the Traditional Game Day division and has held the International Cheer Union University World Cup Cheerleading Championships Division 1 Coed Game Day champion title for four consecutive years.
Qualantre’ Jackson, NSU cheerleading coach, said that competing at UCA nationals is a meaningful opportunity for both the program and its athletes. “It means the world to me,” Jackson said. “Having this team represent NSU on such a large scale is amazing.”
Cheerleading’s preparation for nationals began as early as tryouts last April. The team spent months practicing for their moment on the national mat. Jackson said that they started practicing specifically for nationals in October, rehearsing up until the time they left for Orlando.
Jackson said that the team shared a mindset and commitment to a common goal. “This group of athletes was all connected by their goal of winning a national championship,” he shared. “Seeing them come together as one was one of the things that made this group so special.”
Honor Camus, a senior sports and recreation management major, has been a member of the cheer team for four years. She said that competing at nationals is a completely new experience compared to other performances throughout the season.
“Stepping onto the mat at nationals is so different compared to regular season performances, because there is so much more pressure,” Camus said. “Any other time that we are performing is at a basketball game or a football game. This is the one time a year that we get to represent ourselves and show everyone what we have worked on all year.”
This season taught Camus that cheerleading is about more than medals and trophies. “The team is all about encouraging one another, encouraging each other in our faith, in our progress in the classroom and in our fundraising,” Camus said.
Backstage, the team focused on maintaining high energy and encouraging one another before and after performances. As both an athlete and a cheer coach at Natchitoches Flipping Athletics, Camus said that the biggest takeaway from the season was the power of encouragement. She plans on carrying that lesson into her coaching career.
For many of the Purple Pizzazz Pom Line team members, the trip marked a first-time experience competing on the national level, making the opportunity both exciting and nerve-wracking.
“This was my first time going to nationals,” Nyah Lynch, a senior Purple Pizzazz Pom Line member and dance major, said.
The Purple Pizzazz Pom Line has not competed on a national level since 2024; the team placed 16th in the Division 1 Hip Hop Semi-Finals. According to Lynch, the team does not attend nationals every year due to factors such as funding and overall team readiness.
Preparation for nationals began early in the fall semester, with choreography introduced in August by choreographer Jade Whaley. The team had to balance working on their nationals routine alongside the demands of football season performances.
“Our choreographer was so perfect for us because she tailored the routine to our team,” Lynch said. “The choreography matched the team’s personality.”
The team competed in the UDA hip hop division, performing a routine to Megan Thee Stallion’s song “Captain Hook.”
Kennedy Fiscus, a sophomore communication major and first year Purple Pizzazz Pom Line member, discussed her excitement about competing at UDA. “UDA is the place to be,” Fiscus said. “All of the big teams go to UDA, and it is a dancer’s dream to compete there.”
Fiscus said that the team practices every weekday at 6 a.m. The morning practices let the team be present in both dance and academic responsibilities. After the end of the fall semester, the team stayed on campus an additional week to finalize their routine.
“Over the break, we practiced all day for a straight week,” Fiscus said. “It was a tough time for our bodies and our minds, but the end result made us very proud.”
Despite the pressure of competing at nationals, the team relied on their strong chemistry and support. “We are very uplifting toward each other,” Fiscus said. “We try to stay positive and get through things as a team.”
Lynch said the experience also helped her grow as a leader. “I learned how to set an example for my younger teammates,” Lynch said. “Dance is such a hard sport because you are constantly hard on yourself and your peers. Managing how to interact with each other and work as a team was very important.”
While cheerleading and Purple Pizzazz Pom Line competed in different competitions, both teams shared the same goal of representing NSU on a national stage, and the teams did not disappoint.
