UCF Cheer and Dance Set for 2026 Nationals This WeekendUCF Cheer and Dance Set for 2026 Nationals This Weekend

UCF Cheer and Dance Set for 2026 Nationals This Weekend

by Ken Landis
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ORLANDO – The UCF cheer and dance teams are set to compete at the 2026 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship this weekend. The competition will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from Friday, Jan. 16 through Sunday, Jan. 18.

A four-time national champion, the UCF cheer team will begin the weekend on Friday with its game day routine, followed by Eliza LaBelle and Austin Roberts competing in coed partner stunt. The cheer team has earned the D1A Coed National Championship in 2024, 2020, 2007 and 2003, as well as adding a 2019 crown in the gameday division.

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Fresh off its highest finish in program history, the UCF dance team also begins competition Friday, performing the group’s jazz routine. Last year, the Knights scored a 96.3 in the semifinals to earn the fourth-best score heading into the finals session. UCF was nearly perfect in finals with a 100.03 raw score and a 95.27 event score to claim third place, making history.

Piloted by one of the biggest names in the sport, UCF and Florida Sports Hall-of-Famer Linda Gooch has led her teams to top three finishes in 21 of the past 30 years. Overseeing the entire spirit program, last year’s competition saw the Knights as the only team to finish among the top five in D1A coed cheer and either jazz or hip hop. UCF and Kentucky were the only two schools to make the finals in D1A coed cheer and hip hop.

UCF's dance and cheer teams have scheduled competitions on Friday and Saturday with the goal of reaching Sunday's finals with a chance to add to the program's prestegious trophy case. The Knights' full schedule for this weekend's action is below.

UCF CHEER AND DANCE NATIONALS SCHEDULE

Friday, Jan. 16

  • Cheer Gameday Semifinals
    8:04 a.m. – AdventHealth Arena South (Red)
  • Dance Jazz Prelims
    4:34 p.m. State Farm Fieldhouse
  • Coed Partner Stunt – Eliza LaBelle and Austin Roberts
    5:00 p.m. – AdventHealth Arena North (Yellow)
  • Cheer Gameday Finals (pending qualification)
    Time TBA (4:00-5:15 p.m.) – AdventHealth Arena South (Red)

Saturday, Jan. 17

  • Cheer Coed Semifinals
    1:50 p.m. – AdventHeath Arena South (Red)
  • Dance Jazz Semifinals (pending qualification)
    Time TBA (3:00-6:00 p.m.) – AdventHealth Arena South (Red)
  • Dance Hip Hop Semifinals
    8:39 p.m. – AdventHealth Arena South (Red)

Sunday, Jan. 18

  • Dance Jazz Finals (pending qualification)
    Time TBA (8:15-10:15 a.m.) – AdventhHealth Arena South (Red)
  • Dance Hip Hop Finals (pending qualification)
    Time TBA (3:15-4:15 p.m.) – AdventhHealth Arena South (Red)
  • Cheer Coed Finals (pending qualification)
    Time TBA (8:45-9:45 p.m.) – AdventhHealth Arena South (Red)

TICKETS
Fans planning to attend this weekend's action can purchase tickets here. Tickets are valid for a single day of admission, per person for the selected event date. Online sales will be available throughout the event. Park reservations are not required at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Visit the link for more information.

ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.