Orange Coast College

Orange Coast Cheer and Dance capture three national titles!!!

Thursday, January 18, 2007

ORLANDO, Fla. - Orange Coast College captured three national cheer and dance championships last weekend (Jan. 12-13) at the 2007 Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) National Championships staged at the Walt Disney World Resort.

OCC finished first in the open dance category, first in open hip hop competition, and first in the junior college cheerleading division. OCC’s dancers have now won nine national championships, and the cheerleaders have garnered six national titles.

"Our cheerleaders and dancers turned in an amazing performance in Orlando," said OCC cheerleading advisor, Mike Reynolds. "We’ve won a lot of national titles over the years, but never three in a single year. This is unprecedented. I’m very proud of our students. They worked hard for this."

OCC’s dance team finished ahead of 17 other institutions in the finals to win the open dance title. The University of Saint Thomas of St. Paul, Minn. was second; Lindenwood University of St. Charles, Mo. third; College of St. Benedict of Collegeville, Minn. fourth; and St. Cloud State University of St. Cloud, Minn. fifth.

OCC’s dancers have now won a total of nine UCA national titles. Those titles came in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007. The team is coached by Dan Sapp.

Orange Coast’s hip hop dance team finished ahead of the University of Saint Thomas and St. Cloud State University, which tied for second in the open division. The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire was third, Lindenwood University fourth and the University of Central Missouri fifth. The final field included 12 institutions.

Orange Coast College’s cheerleaders captured their sixth national crown in the junior college division. Wallace State College of Hanceville, Ala. was second; Jones County Junior College of Ellisville, Miss. third; Snead State Community College of Blount County, Ala. fourth; and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College of Miami, Okla. fifth.

OCC’s cheerleaders won their national championships in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2007.

In addition to this year’s hip hop crown, OCC’s pep squad captured the national 2005 stunt team award, giving Orange Coast College a total of 17 UCA national titles over the past 12 years.

Last weekend’s winning Orlando routines were video taped by ESPN and will be shown on the national sports network throughout 2007.

"That’s why our cheer and dance teams have such strong national followings," Reynolds says. "They’re regularly seen on ESPN throughout the year."

How does OCC consistently attract so many talented athletes to its cheer and dance squads?

"It’s due primarily to our ESPN appearances," Reynolds says. "We annually receive dozens of unsolicited letters and emails from throughout the country. Our best recruiters are our former cheerleaders and dancers — they’re all over the place — and they send good kids our way. They talk up our program, and we appreciate that."

Many OCC cheerleaders and dancers receive scholarships to continue cheering and dancing at four-year universities.