The Starkville High School Cheer team earned Top 3 honors at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) Camp held at Mississippi State University last week. The team also received the coveted Leadership Award, a recognition voted on by all participating teams to honor a squad who has demonstrated excellent leadership skills throughout the four-day camp. UCA staff recognized the team with the Day 1 Banana award, a daily honor given to the team which best exemplifies the all-around qualities of a cheerleader. UCA Traditional Camps provide an intense week of learning in crowd leading, skills training, leadership and team bonding.
Jacket Cheer earned 1st Place in Sideline, 1st Place in Camp Routine, and 2nd Place in Cheer. Head Coach Riesa Blackwell said the team had a special pride in taking the top ranking in Camp Routine because of the difficulty of the skills required and also the competition they were up against.
"I am so proud of their performances at camp," Blackwell said. "The pyramid we performed for the Camp Routine is the most difficult pyramid we have ever taken to camp, and they worked diligently all week to hit it. Taking first place in that category really made them proud of their hard work."
Blackwell also praised the team's work in the Gameday Skills category, which tests skills that can often be most impactful to a fan's experience. She said the team held their own and had a strong showing against the other teams, including one that had earned back-to-back state championships.
"Knowing they were going up against stiff competition really pushed our girls to focus on the small details," Blackwell said.
In camp competition, the details can really shine through as student athletes not only work for team awards, but for their own personal best and to earn individual accolades. In addition to the team awards, Jacket Cheerleaders earned the following individual honors:
- 3 "Pin It Forward" Recipients
- 6 All-Americans
- All 3 Jump-Off Finalists
- Jump-Off Winner
A large part of UCA camp is the focus on leadership development and the culture of spirit that teams take back to their high schools. Blackwell often reminds the Jacket Cheer team that it is a privilege to wear the black and gold and represent the school district. Through the team's work each year making appearances in the community and also participating in various events at campuses across the district, the athletes have the opportunity to become role models for younger Yellow Jackets –– something Blackwell believes is integral to the cheerleader experience.
"Both the Leadership Award and the Banana are the awards that mean the most to me as a coach," Blackwell said.
She notes that as a daily honor, only four teams receive a Banana award during a UCA Camp experience. Jackets were selected for the award on the first day of camp. The Banana is a recognition from UCA's highly experienced cheer staff, and for the Jackets, set the tone for the entire week.
"The Leadership Award is also special because it is selected by the teams at camp," Blackwell shared. "The staff asks each team at camp to select which squad they would want to be on if they had to be on a different team. It is an honor to be selected by other teams and a reminder for our girls that kindness and encouragement are recognized by their peers."
The skills learned and bonding that occurs for a team in the intense schedule of a UCA Camp helps to prepare the team to work together throughout the busy football season as well as to compete well at future competitions. And, this year, Jacket Cheer has an impressive track record of success and national honors to defend.
Last season, the team earned a bid to Nationals for the first time in over 20 years and competed in Orlando in February at the National High School Cheerleading Championships. The varsity squad earned an impressive 4th place overall in Gameday Routine and 15th overall in Traditional Routine.
In addition, the tradition of excellence created in the Jacket Spirit programs offers opportunities for students beyond high school. Ahead of last season, ten Starkville High School cheerleaders had signed to cheer with collegiate squads in the last four years. The Class of 2025 saw three more cheerleaders sign to cheer at the next level. This spring, eight of those past signees competed at Nationals as part of their collegiate and community college teams, with three earning National Champion recognition.
The black and gold traditions lead by the Jacket Spirit squads will have a new look and sound this season when football returns to Yellow Jacket Stadium. In addition to new turf, the gameday experience will include a new video board with in-game coverage and choreographed lighting and sound features to enhance the traditional pregame run-out and celebrate Jacket success during home games. Jacket Cheer's leadership and training in crowd leading and the spirit culture will be put to good use.