University of Massachusets Athletics
Cheerleading, Dance Squads Fare Well At 2005 NCA Collegiate National Championships
May 02, 2005 | General
May. 2, 2005
AMHERST, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts spirit squads took to the national stage earlier this past April as they competed at the 2005 NCA Collegiate National Championships which were held in Daytona Beach Florida for the 10th consecutive year on April 6-10.
The University of Massachusetts was represented by two cheerleading teams, the dance team, and the mascot. There were only two other programs, (University of Louisville and Hawaii Pacific University) to bring four groups to compete and have all four groups continue on to the final competition.
The dance team placed 11th in the final Division I dance competition, Sam the Minuteman placed 5th in the mascot national competition, the co ed team placed 5th in Division I cheer, while the all girl team had its most impressive finish in the history of its program, placing 3rd with an 8.89 behind two full scholarship programs, (University of Louisville and University of Maryland, respectively).
National competition results in Division I cheer and dance will be aired May 10, 2005 on Fox Sports Net at 3:00pm.
The teams have been nationally televised several times throughout the 2004-2005 season. Both the cheerleading and dance teams performed at the National Champion New England Patriots home opener with several celebrity entertainers including Elton John, Jessica Simpson, Toby Keith, Lenny Kravitz, Destiny's Child, and the New England Patriots Cheerleaders. Sam the Minuteman was featured on an ESPN commercial opposite tennis great, Andy Roddick. Anthony Marotta, co ed cheerleading captain, took the number eight spot on Sportscenter's Top Ten Plays list for his intensity at a UMass Men's basketball game. Finally, head coach Kelly Proctor, the all girl and the co ed cheerleading teams were featured on an hour long episode of MTV's Made, which continues to air throughout the 2005 season.
The following dates and times are Spring football cheerleading tryouts in the Curry Hicks Cage for the co ed and all girl teams:
Thursday May 12 8-9:30pm Friday May 13 6-8pm Saturday May 14 12-2pm Sunday May 15 8:30-11am
