April 6, 2009

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University Cheerleading squad will head back into the competition arena April 9-10th at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championships at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Last year, Marshall placed 4th in the co-ed intermediate division out of 18 teams. This year's team will compete against 12 other teams in the division, including the top four teams from the 2008 competition.

The event is the largest collegiate cheer and dance event in the world. Nearly 5,000 student-athletes and 15,000 supporters and spectators are expected to converge on Daytona Beach this week. The competition boasts seven dance divisions and 11 cheer divisions that separate teams by designation of All-Girl or Coed, skill level, university enrollment (Division 1, 1A, or II) Junior College or International.

Preliminary competition will be held Thursday morning to determine the performance order for Friday morning's final round. Friday morning final round will conclude by noon.