DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Saint Joseph's cheer program turned in another standout performance on the national stage as the Hawks earned a third-place finish in the Division I Spirit Rally division at the 2026 National Cheerleaders Association Collegiate Championship.
After entering finals in fourth place, Saint Joseph's delivered a zero-deduction routine on the second day and posted a score of 88.00 to capture the bronze medal and a spot in the winner's circle. The Hawks were led by captains Krista Bondarenko, Julia Hoffman, Madelynn Massey and Aubrey Neary.
In addition to the Spirit Rally squad's success, a second Saint Joseph's team competed in the Division I All-Girl Intermediate division. Battling in the largest division of the championship with more than 30 teams, the Hawks earned a 10th-place finish.
"Going into Daytona, our slogan was 'Earned. Backed. Unbreakable.' Each word carries meaning for our team, but we focused most on earned," head coach Kimberly Nichols said. "We knew the winner's circle is a privilege, and if we wanted to be part of it again, we had to push. We spent hours perfecting the routine — analyzing it from every angle and even bringing in industry friends for outside perspective — so we could come back with a bang.
"Coming out of Day 1 in fourth place was shocking, but in that moment our coaches and athletes made a decision: We were going to take every piece of judges' feedback and maximize the next 48 hours," Nichols continued. "Instead of giving up, we chose to make sure no one counted us out. We practiced more, morning and afternoon, leading into day two. The athletes rose to the occasion, hit zero on the Bandshell, and did it in a big way. The energy was incredible, friends back home could feel it through VarsityTV, and I had chills for hours afterward.
"Hearing our name called into the winner's circle, ultimately finishing third and increasing our score by four points, was an unforgettable moment," Nichols added. "I'm incredibly proud of the progress this team made this season. We watched so many athletes grow and commit to the work, and it's truly special to be part of their journey."
