ORLANDO, Fla. – Widener University cheerleading team placed second place at the UCA College National Championships in Orlando, Fla. from Jan. 13-15.

Head coach Jacki Ketner was thrilled with the squad's performance. "I could not be more proud of how the team performed at Nationals," Ketner said. "After not being able to go for two years, most of the team had never competed at this competition before. The team exceeded my expectations and were able to perform one of the hardest routines in program history in both divisions, bringing home another silver medal and placing in the top ten in Game Day against schools that we look up to."

The cheer team competed in the Game Day Division on Saturday and Traditional Division on Sunday.

Out of 25 teams, Widener was awarded 10^th place in the Game Day Division, which included colleges and universities across the three NCAA Divisions. This competition showcases the school's fight song and a timeout routine.

The Traditional Division is a two-and-a-half-minute routine of difficult and athletic stunts. Widener placed second place out of 15 schools among other Division III colleges and universities, junior colleges, and community colleges. In their last three appearances in the Traditional Division, the Pride have been awarded three straight silver medals in 2019, 2020, and now 2023.

The Pride look to their next performance at the MAC Championships, which Widener will host on Sunday, Feb. 19.