Ole Miss cheer finished the weekend with some hardware, winning the Universal Cheer Association College National Championship in the Division 1A Traditional All Girl Category with a score of 91.4.

This marked the first time in program history that Ole Miss cheer placed first in this category. In 2022 and 2018, the team placed first in the All Girl Game Day category and earned top honors in 2023 in the D1A Spirit Program Gameday category.

This year’s competition was held at Walt Disney Resort in Orlando.

Cheerleader Malina Sayaovong, a junior marketing major from Oak Creek, Wis., described what it meant to her and the rest of the team to take home the national championship. 

“It meant everything because our goal this year was to be good people before good cheerleaders.” Sayaovong said. “The first win for a program is always the hardest. I’m excited to see what’s next for the Ole Miss program we are building.”

Head cheer coach Skylar Casey shared Sayaovong’s excitement. 

“I’m extremely proud of this team and these athletes,” Casey said in an Ole Miss Athletics press release. “They worked so hard for this accomplishment, and they completely deserve it. The culture and standard that this team set is extraordinary.”

Sayaovong said the moment the team heard their names called as national champions is one she and her teammates will never forget. 

“It almost felt like time slowed down for a split second, and then we all started screaming.” Sayaovong said. “We worked so hard for months for one single competition, and it all paid off. All I could do was hug my teammates and coaches.”