Yellow Jacket Middle School and High School Cheer squads traveled to the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) National High School Cheerleading Championship competition in Orlando this weekend and earned top-10 honors nationally, including a Bronze and Silver finish in just their second year receiving a bid to attend the national championship in more than two decades.
Starkville Middle School Cheer received a Silver Medal, earning 2nd place in their division in the "Game Day" performance category. Starkville High School received a Bronze Medal, earning 3rd place in their division in the "Game Day" performance category, as well as 6th place out of a 44-team field in the "Traditional" routine category. Both squads competed under the non-tumbling designation and earned bids to attend Nationals at regional cheer competitions last fall.
During the competition this weekend, Starkville High School took the mat five times over the course of the three-day competition, performing the "Game Day" routine twice and the "Traditional" routine three times. Jacket Head Varsity Cheer Coach Riesa Blackwell says earning a Bronze medal and jumping nine spots in the "Traditional" standings is a testament to the team's commitment and work ethic.
"I am so proud of the routines that we put on the mat this week and the work ethic and determination shown by this team," she said. "Nationals is an experience that is physically draining and requires so much perseverance to continue to do well each day. We spent late nights going over feedback from judges and making small changes that make a big difference on the score sheet which helped us continue to advance."
Blackwell also says the support of the Jacket family and community was a game changer in keeping the team motivated and confident.
"We had so many people reaching out on social media and watching from Varsity TV or Facebook live," she said. "A few elementary classrooms sent us good luck videos, and we felt like so many people were invested in how we did each round. I really think that pushed the girls to do even better!
Blackwell says unseasonably cold weather in Orlando was another layer of challenges the team worked together to overcome. Early, cold mornings practicing outdoors before competition each day showed the team's drive and determination to improve.
"We practiced before breakfast in the only space large enough to fit our team – the roof! But, we made it work," she said. "That's one of the things I love about cheer and the lessons it teaches my girls. You just keep going and keep pushing forward."
"Forward" is the only word to describe the trajectory of Jacket Cheer over the last few years.
After returning to Nationals for the first time in 20 years last year, Starkville High improved in its performance for the "Traditional" category from 15th to 6th place in the 2026 competition. In the "Game Day" category, the team improved from 4th place last year to 3rd in Orlando, making this year's performance the first time SHS has medaled at a national competition.
"All season, we have talked about what it takes to give us that extra push to be in contention to medal, and meeting that goal was such a moment of pride," Blackwell said.
Blackwell said improving for the 6th place finish in "Traditional" was also a mark of pride for the team because of the stiff field of competition that tends to be much more experienced on the national stage.
"The teams we are going against in 'Traditional' are tough with elite stunting skills," Blackwell said. "Plus, they have several years of experience competing traditional routines."
For Jacket student athletes, this track record of success on the mat has translated into opportunities to extend participation in Cheer and Spirit squads at the next level. In the last five years, the Jacket Cheer team has seen 16 athletes sign to cheer at the collegiate level at community colleges and four-year universities. Some of those athletes competed at the collegiate UCA championships earlier in the month, earning accolades with their respective colleges.
Aside from the opportunities and standard of excellence the cheer program brings to Jacket Athletics, Coach Blackwell says the lessons learned off the mat and the family built between athletes are what make participating in cheer so valuable. The coaching staff and entire squad take the responsibility of representing the Starkville community very seriously.
"I am most proud of how our team represented Starkville and the district off the mat throughout not only this competition, but the entire season," she said. "This team gets along better than any team I have ever had the pleasure of coaching. They are respectful and responsible and understand that they are representing their school and their community in how they carry themselves."
SHS Cheer senior, Crosby Taylor echoed that sentiment.
"I've never felt more loved by a group of people," Crosby said. "SHS Cheer didn't just prove to the nation what we're capable of – we proved it to ourselves. When we set our minds to something, there's no limit to what we can achieve."
"Our team works so well together," said Maddie Butler, another Jacket Cheer senior. "Getting to experience this weekend with them is the best way to end the season. It's living proof that the long, hard work we put in all year is worth every second."
Ending the 2025-2026 season with medals in hand sets the Jacket Cheer squad firmly among the elite programs in the state, and SOCSD Athletic Director Jay Hopson says he sees a bright future both on and off the mat.
"I'm incredibly proud of Coach Blackwell and her squad for their outstanding performance at Nationals this year," he said. "With a consistent rise in the standings, they are only going up from here, and the excellence they bring as ambassadors for the entire Jacket Athletics program is unmatched."
Senior squad member, Addyson Vickers says the team's Nationals performance caps off years of cheerleading experiences and hard work in a way that's hard to describe.
"Going to national the past two years has been one of my favorite memories throughout high school," she said. "Going into my senior season, I knew this team would be a great team to finish my career with, and getting 3rd in the nation proved just that. It made all of the countless hours of practice, early mornings and late nights worth it. I'm so proud of this team and happy that we got to finish my last season so strong."
