For the first time in school history, the Linfield cheer and stunt team is competing against other colleges in Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) collegiate competitions.
The team started off its season with the virtual UCA College Game Day Kick-Off in November, placing first in the small coed division for sideline and timeout performances and third in the fight song category.
The team also traveled to Florida Jan. 14-16, 2022, for the UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship, where they placed ninth in the small coed game day division. They were the only cheer team from Oregon and the only Division III team on the competition floor.
Taking the team’s show on the road is the next step in the team’s evolution, said head coach Carissa Collins.
“The previous coach did a great job of raising the profile of the team in Oregon,” Collins said. “Heading to a national competition is the next logical step in the team’s legacy.”
Competing team members were captains Sofia Nelson ’22 and McKenna Mills ’24, along with Abram Nelson ’24, Ashlyn McPherson ’24, Brenna Mitchell ’24, Grace Heimbigner ’25, Jennifer Sandoval ’23, Kylie Cecchini ’23, Meadow Evenson ’25, Taetum Lynn Kalani ’25, Taylor Schneibel ’24 and Kira Sneddon ’22.
