Marshall cheerleaders place 4th the National Cheerleaders Association’s Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championships

NOTE: Fox Sports Net televised segments of the event on a tape-delay basis to be shown on April 26 and 29. Or visit www.varsity.com.

Marshall University’s co-ed cheerleading squad placed fourth in the National Cheerleaders Association’s Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championships April 10 and 11 in Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Central Oklahoma claimed the national championship with an 8.338 score in the finals. Army was the runner-up at 8.256 followed by third-place Oral Roberts at 8.097 and Marshall at 7.955. Indiana State (7.815) was fifth followed by Wake Forest (7.630), Georgia State (7.565), Texas-San Antonio (7.460), Maryland (7.453) and Air Force (7.388).

Marshall was in third place after the preliminaries.

The Thundering Herd cheer squad was one of 16 teams competing in the co-ed intermediate division. Marshall earned an automatic bid to the event last fall with an outstanding performance during cheer camp in Louisville. Marshall’s cheerleaders won most collegiate, best all-around collegiate, and most spirited at the camp. The Thundering Herd’s most spirited award was the squad’s seventh consecutive win in that category.

“This is the best team we have had,” Head Coach Donna Dunn said. “I have never felt as confident about a team as I do this one. We have a great group and I think we have an excellent chance of winning a national championship.”

“This is one of the few times where the cheerleaders go out and compete for themselves rather than cheering on another team,” Dunn said. “I am so proud of this group. This is the fifth time we have had the opportunity to go to Nationals and this could not be a better group to represent Marshall.”

The two day event brought collegiate cheerleading and dance teams from across the nation to Daytona Beach.

Marshall’s co-ed squad consists of 22 students who dedicate countless hours of time practicing their routines and cheering at athletic events.
 

Hali Eplin, Sr.

Lindsay Pierce, Sr.

Carrie Ferguson, Sr.

Miriah Gillispie, Sr.

Chad Greenhill, Sr.

Stephanie Perry, Jr.

Damien Williams, Jr.

Isaiah Hayes, Jr.

Allen Jordan, Jr.

Micaela Davis, Jr.

Josh Berry, Jr.

Josie Eagle, Jr.

Shane Strafford, Jr.

Charlie Betts, Jr.

Sara Holsinger, Jr.

Kayla Davis, So.

Candice Michael, So.

Adam Hall, So.

Emily Childers, So.

Erin Dickson, So.

Megan Kelly, Fr.

Kelsey Waybright, Fr.

Coaches

Donna Dunn

Duane Nutt

Richie Singer

Chris Furman