Northwest Mississippi cheer and dance teams win four national titles at UCA/UDA College Nationals

Senatobia, Miss. — The Northwest Mississippi Community College cheer and dance teams claimed four national titles at the 2026 UCA/UDA College Nationals in Orlando this weekend. The teams finished no lower than third in all events.

This marks the tenth national title in the school’s cheer program history, with nine of those under Head Coach Brandon Casey. It is the third dance title for the program under Coach Patrice Christian, who has led the dance team to a title every year since 2024, sources said.

On Saturday night, the cheer team won the Open Co-Ed Gameday division with a score of 88.4667, beating Washburn University and Iowa Western Community College. Cheer also finished second in the Open All-Girl Gameday division. The dance team finished third in the Open Dance Gameday finals, narrowly behind Endicott College and Minnesota State University-Mankato.

Christian said the team worked hard to represent Northwest well. “Even though it was only three-tenths of a point from winning, we are super proud to put our best on the floor and represent Northwest,” she said.

On Sunday, the teams added three more titles. The cheer team won the Open Small Co-Ed division with 81.65 points and the Open All-Girl division with 86.9 points, beating Pearl River Community College. The dance team secured its third consecutive Open Hip-Hop title with a score of 95, outpacing Stockton University’s 90.8.

Christian praised the team’s effort. “They have raised the bar so high that they are competing on a Division I-A level as a two-year school,” she said. Coach Casey highlighted the program’s culture and alumni support. “We are building a lifelong family that these kids will have forever,” he said. “More alumni came back to watch or support than ever before.”

Both coaches emphasized the importance of institutional support. Casey credited the college’s administration for their backing, calling it unmatched and critical to the program’s success.

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