Photo courtesy of usf_allgirl_cheer on instagram.
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
The University of South Florida’s cheerleading program is gearing up for the most prestigious event in collegiate cheerleading. This year’s Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) College Nationals on Jan. 17-19 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, will feature the nation’s top teams competing at the highest level.
The USF cheer program is recognized alongside the best in the cheer world, with both a coed squad and an all-girls team.
Last year, the all-girls squad accomplished what no team had before: it won both the Division IA All-Girl Game Day title and the Division IA All-Girl Traditional title in the same season. It was a first for any Division I program. The victories brought USF’s UCA national titles to six over the last four seasons, solidifying their collegiate cheer dynasty.
Under the tutelage of head coach Sandy Clarke, the back-to-back league championships in the All-Girl Game Day category have kept them pegged as a contender.
USF’s coed team has also been a powerhouse, winning several national titles in past years for the Traditional category. In 2024, the team ended their three-year winning streak with a second-place finish in the Division IA Large Coed Game Day Cheer category and fourth in Division IA Large Coed Cheer category, but the team’s combined performances are a testament to the strength and will to reclaim the top spot.
Fans will have multiple options to see the Bulls in action over the three competition days. On Jan. 17, the all-girls team will compete in the Division IA All-Girl Game Day Semifinals at 12:22 p.m. and the Division IA Cheer Game Day Semifinals at 2:37 p.m. in the AdventHealth Arena – South.
Later that evening, the coed partner stunt duo of Ashlyn Pinner and Brandon Gray will compete at 6:56 p.m. in AdventHealth Arena – North.
On Jan. 18, the action continues when the all-girls squad will compete in the Division IA All-Girl Cheer Semifinals at 11:29 a.m. and the coed squad will compete in the Division IA Cheer Semifinals at 12:26 p.m. in AdventHealth Arena – South.
The University World Cup Cheerleading Championships Premier-Girl Cheer Semifinals on 4:45 p.m. at State Farm Field House will be the only event on the last day, Jan. 19.
The USF cheer teams have worked their way to become one of the leading units in the sport at the national level. Now looking to defend their titles, the Bulls set out to make their historic run again this year. Fans are invited to tune in and support USF in their quest to keep the championships coming to Tampa.
