Southeastern cheerleaders, Lionettes crowned 2021 National Champions

HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana cheerleaders and the Lionette dance squad both claimed gold medals in the 2021 UCA & UDA College Nationals’ virtual competition Tuesday.

“We’re still in shock,” Spirit Director Catherine Lawrence said. “We weren’t expecting this. For us to get past all the mask and no-contact mandates. All of our stuff involves human contact. Pushing past that and be able to get to work in January, we were able to get this done.”

The Southeastern cheerleaders claimed the program’s first gold medal, finishing atop the Open Coed Game Day rankings by nearly four points over runner-up Midwestern State.

“We’ve never won a national championship,” Catherine Lawrence said. “We won in Game Day and, before, the highest we’ve gotten there is third. We definitely came back ready for that one. Our highest finish ever was second in our traditional routine and the was in 2012.”

Southeastern placed second once again in the traditional routine, finishing less than two-tenths of a point behind gold medalist Eastern Kentucky in Small Coed Division I.

The Lionettes dance team won its second national championship, bringing home the gold in Division I Hip Hop. Southeastern previously won gold, in the same category, in 2018.

“They have overcome so much this entire year,” Lionette coach Haley Lanter said. “We started working on these routines back in the fall when we thought National would be at its normal time in January. This season has been longer than any other season we’ve ever experienced, so for them to keep pushing and fighting until the end is what makes a national champion.”

Southeastern also placed fourth in Division I Game Day, falling just one-half point shy of a bronze medal in that category.

More information on the competition, as well as video submissions of Southeastern’s performances, can be found at www.varsity.com.

SPIRIT CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the Southeastern spirit programs are encouraged to join the Spirit Club. Southeastern cheer and dance alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.

All membership fees and donations to both the Spirit Club and S Club (volleyball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern cheer and dance programs. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the Southeastern spirit squads, follow @LionUpCheer and @LionUpLionettes on both Twitter and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.

CHEER FINALS
Open Coed Game Day
Rank Program Name Semis Finals
1. Southeastern Louisiana University 94.3333 95.5
2. Midwestern State University 90.9667 91.7
3. Kutztown University 83.1333 84.4

Small Coed Division I
Rank Program Name Semis Finals
1. Eastern Kentucky University 87.1 89.1
2. Southeastern Louisiana University 87.6 88.95
3. Northern Kentucky University 85.3 87.25

DANCE FINALS
Division I Hip Hop
Rank Program Name Raw Score Deductions Performance Score Event Score
1. Southeastern Louisiana University 88.85 0 88.85 90.1
2. St John’s University 86.2 0 86.2 88.825
3. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 84.8 0 84.8 86.2125

Division I Game Day
Rank Program Name Raw Score Deductions Performance Score Event Score
1. University of Nebraska Omaha 93.4167 0 93.4167 93.5917
2. Hofstra University 93.05 0 93.05 93.4584
3. University of Northern Iowa 91.5 0 91.5 92
4. Southeastern Louisiana University 89.65 0 89.65 91.6
5. University of South Dakota 85.9 0 85.9 86.4