Georgia Southern University Cheerleaders Among Top Performers at National Competition

April 15, 2014

The Georgia Southern University All-Girl and Co-Ed cheer squads both returned home from the National Cheerleaders Association Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla., held April 9-13, with national recognition for their respective teams.

The All-Girl squad secured its fourth national championship in the last seven years during the competition, finishing ahead of teams from Penn State, West Virginia University, Ohio State and the University of Georgia among others. The young team comprised of 20 cheerleaders, nine of which were freshmen and no seniors, was led by junior Chloe Cotter, a mathematics major from Lawrenceville, Ga., and junior Emily Harwood, a special education major from Sugar Hill, Ga.

The Co-Ed squad, led by senior and communications studies major Carla Metts from Dublin, Ga., finished second in the competition behind the University of Michigan. The squad started the final day of competition in fifth placed but moved up to finish ahead of teams from Middle Tennessee State University, University of Texas at El Paso, Kent State University and the University of Missouri.

“The All-Girl squad fought through injuries all year and overcame those challenges to bring home a national title, and the Co-Ed squad put their best routine in years on the floor, but unfortunately they came up just a little short,” said Cheerleading Coach Barry Munkasy, Ph.D. “I am very proud of how both teams performed and represented Georgia Southern University.”

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 125 degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement.  Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.