Jan. 17, 2016
College Cheerleading Championships - (1/17/15) - Images by UCF Knights
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF cheerleading squad energized the crowd at hp Fieldhouse at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and executed a challenging routine, but finished runner-up to Kentucky at the College Cheerleading National Championships.
Related: College Cheerleading Championships Central | Results | Road to Nationals Blog
It was the third-straight year that the Knights finished runner-up at the event and the 11th-consecutive time the program has achieved a top-four finish. The past three years has seen UCF finish second to Kentucky (2016, 2014) and Alabama (2015).
"I want to be sure and thank all of the UCF fans and alumni that showed up to support our team tonight," head coach Linda Gooch said. "In many ways, it was like a UCF Cheerleading family reunion because there were so many in the crowd.
"I am proud of the fight we showed and especially honored to have worked daily with our seven seniors, who have led our team to three-straight runner-up appearances. Their leadership has once again kept UCF in the national spotlight. I am so proud the entire team for their hard work and the way that they have represented our program and university."
The program has now placed in the Top 10 of the College Cheerleading National Championships 21 times in the last 23 years under head coach Linda Gooch, including national titles in 2003 and 2007.
The top five was rounded out by Alabama, Mississippi and Mississippi State. The full results can be found here.
Before competing for a national championship, the Knights, who won the title the last two years, dazzled the crowd at the J Center and also earned a runner-up finish at the World University Cheerleading Championships. Iowa Western Community College (USA) took the top spot, while the top five was completed by Mississippi (USA), Cincinnati (USA) and Northwest Missouri State (USA).
More information about the College Cheerleading National Championships can be found at Varsity.com. ESPN is set to air a tape delayed broadcast later this spring.
Congratulate the cheerleading team on social media by sending them a message on Twitter @UCF_Cheer, Instagram @UCFCheer and Facebook at /UCFCheerTeam.
Story by Nate Blythe. Photos by Chris Schubert.