Athletic Department News

Dave Geringer [Contact]

Cheerleaders Celebrate First National Championship Since 2001

4/7/2006

For Immediate Release
Contact Dave Geringer, Sports Information Director, (508) 990-9651  dgeringer@umassd.edu
Friday, April 7, 2006

DAYTONA BEACH, FL--For the first time since the 2001 season, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's cheerleaders are national champions.

The Corsairs finished in first place in the Division II/III All-Girl Division in the final round of the National Cheerleading Association's championships at the Ocean Center Friday afternoon.

UMass Dartmouth finished with a score of 8.85. Orange Coast College was second at 8.63, and Hawaii Pacific third at 8.59 in the 18-team field.

"Every stunt we did hit perfectly," said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Scott Bouchard. "We really came through when it mattered, and I can't be any prouder of the team than I am now."

The Corsairs finished first during Thursday's preliminary round, and teams performed Friday in the inverse order of their finish Thursday. UMD was the final team to perform, so when they announced the Corsairs' score, the team knew that they had won.

"Everyone was very excited," said Bouchard. We had a great second day."

The championship is the third for the Corsairs, who won in 1999 and 2001, finished second last season, were fourth two years ago and third in each of the previous two seasons.

The competition concludes UMass Dartmouth's competitive cheerleading schedule.


UMASS DARTMOUTH CHEERLEADING


THE UMASS DARTMOUTH CHEERLEADERS:

Jackie Bartsh JR Salisbury, MA
Alexis Battle* SR Methuen, MA
Nicole Corrao FR Gloucester, MA
Jess Goveny FR Gloucester, MA
Courtney Hassett SO. Webster, MA
Amy Krause JR. Franklin, MA
Kristine Leyden* SR Medford, MA
Megan Lydon JR Byfield, MA
Christine Maguire JR Billerica, MA
Erin Meister FR Arlington, MA
Nicole Minghella JR Wilmington, MA
Nicole Randall JR Braintree, MA
Mary Robbins SR Ketchum, NY
Chrissy Silva JR Brockton, MA
Amanda Smith SO Bridgewater, MA

ALTERNATES:

Cheryl Bandoski SO East Longmeadow, MA
Azah Che FR Somerville, MA
Rebecca Cullion FR Cumberland, RI
Allie Feldman FR. Paxton, MA