By Hannah Wolke, Digital Communications Manager

Last week, Orlando, Fla. turned up the heat as college cheer and dance teams from all corners of the country came together for one of the most anticipated events of the year: the Universal Dance Association (UDA) and Universal Cheer Association (UCA) College Nationals. 

Fans experienced a whirlwind of epic performances, groundbreaking changes and technical skills that were absolutely mind-blowing. This competition is often referred to as the “Super Bowl” of college dance.

The UDA competition is broken up into different categories: Jazz, Hip Hop, Pom and Game Day. UCA is split between Game Day, Partner and Group Stunt, Coed and All-Female routines. There was also a spirit team competition and mascot competition, the latter of which the University of Cincinnati Bearcats won.  

Speaking of teams, can we just take a moment to shout out some legends? The Ohio State University and the University of Minnesota. We’re talking about serious heavy hitters in the cheer and dance world – these squads have been setting the bar high for years. This year, they didn’t just meet expectations. They crushed them. 

“I would say that the University of Minnesota’s jazz piece was my favorite, but Ohio State brought something new, and it was really fun to watch,” sophomore nursing major Olivia Bromeier said.

Minnesota and Ohio State were the teams everyone wanted to beat in all categories, especially jazz. Ohio State’s dance “My Way” spread its way across TikTok last year because of its unforgettable dance story about self-determination, individualism and the power of choice. The popularity of this dance made Ohio State an automatic frontrunner in the competition.

“I think that Ohio State’s pom routine was my favorite and there is a certain part of it that I’ve seen over and over again,” Bromeier said. “It is mesmerizing.”

Ellie Wagner from Ohio State and her younger sister Ava from Minnesota faced off in their last competition together. After nearly 20 years of competing side-by-side, they were finally rivals on the biggest stage. The emotions were real, the stakes were high, and it was a fierce sister showdown. 

Now, the buzz around the competition was all about the Jazz and Hip Hop categories. Fans couldn’t agree on who should have been the true winners. Some thought the placements should’ve been swapped, while others were shouting from the rooftops about underdog teams that deserved more love. It was one of those years where the line between victory and a near-miss felt razor-thin. Ohio State was the winner of Jazz and Hip Hop was won by the University of Nevada.

This year at UDA, the pom routines showcased a lot of underdogs up front and leading the pack.  

“There were so many other teams who did great besides the front runners that everyone on TikTok talks about,” Bromeier said. 

Our neighbors just a few miles away at the University of Cincinnati had standout performances in the game day and hip hop categories, where they placed third and fifth, respectively. 

“As someone who has danced her whole life and competitively danced, it is so fun and exciting to follow UDA,” Bromeier said.  

In discussing the UCA competition, fans mostly agreed that the University of Alabama and The University of South Florida were the best in the Coed category. When it came to women power, the University of Mississippi swiped Alabama’s first place title in the All-Female category. South Florida also won Game Day cheer, which also had University of Cincinnati down in sixth place.   

The UDA and UCA College Nationals are more than just a competition, it’s an electrifying display of athleticism, storytelling and school spirit. It’s where the passion, precision and heart of college cheer and dance teams come together in one unforgettable show.