Missouri State Cheer Team Prepares for NCA Nationals

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Missouri State’s cheer squad will be competing at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College Nationals here, April 11-13.

Missouri State will be facing a competitive field in the Division I Small Coed Intermediate Cheer division prelims beginning Thursday afternoon at 12:20 p.m. (Central) at Ocean Center. The top-scoring teams from the preliminary round advance to Friday’s finals. 

“We have been preparing for nationals since we received a bid,” said Missouri State cheer coach Will Thomas. “The team has put skills from their routine into multiple performances at MSU athletic events, and we have practiced and performed our routine 50 times. Our squad has sacrificed time off during spring break, and spent numerous hours reviewing film and applying critiques to prepare for this opportunity.” 

Missouri State earned a bid to this year’s NCA Nationals after a successful summer cheer camp that demonstrated growth and execution of specific skills. The team’s routine will be streamed with the competition coverage on TV.Varsity.com.

“Our word for the year is purpose,” said Thomas. “Everything we do has a purpose, and every minute we spend with one another in preparation is purposeful to achieve success of the team.”

Missouri State has a strong history of success at national events, finishing second at the UCA Nationals in 2020 and finishing first during a virtual national competition during the pandemic year of 2021. This is the team’s second trip to the NCA event after finishing 16th in a competitive field a year ago.

NCA is the world’s original cheer company and was founding in 1948. This year marks the company’s 76th year of representing and recognizing cheerleaders with over 300 teams competing at this year’s event.