Washington State University Athletics
WSU Spirit Squads Head to Nationals for Fifth-Straight Year
January 09, 2018 | Spirit Squads
WSU Cheer and the Crimson Girls will hold a national showcase performance, Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at Bohler Gym.
PULLMAN, Wash. – For the fifth-straight year, Washington State University's Cheer and Crimson Girls will compete at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and Universal Dancers Association (UDA) College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships, respectively, Jan. 12-14, at ESPN's Wide World of Sports at Orlando, Fla. Â
WSU Cheer and Crimson Girls will hold a national showcase performance, Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at Bohler Gym. Admission is free to come preview the national routines.
The Crimson Girls will compete in the Division IA Jazz Semifinals against 22 other teams, taking the stage at 11:12 a.m. PT/2:12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 13. WSU Cheer will compete in the Division IA Coed semifinals against 21 other teams, taking the stage, Saturday, Jan. 13 at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET. Once again, the Crimson Girls and WSU Cheer received perfect scores through preliminary judging.
"This has been a banner year for cheer regarding work ethic and overachieving as a squad," Spirit Coach Chris Opheim said "I think this is the best atmosphere we've had as a team."
Opheim is coaching WSU Cheer for his sixth-consecutive year, while former Crimson Girl Kaila Evenoff, in her third year at WSU, is coaching the Crimson Girls. Opheim is a former head judge at the competition and a 10-year UCA staff instructor.Â
"It's been a tough schedule for us this year," Crimson Girls Coach Kaila Evenoff said. "But, these young women have stepped up and exceeded every one of my expectations."
Last season marked the fourth-straight year that the WSU Cheerleaders had competed at the competition and the fourth time since 2008 that the squad had competed in any competition. It was also the fourth time since 2009 that the Crimson Girls competed at the UDA Dance Team National Championships. Cheer finished 12th in 2016, 11th in 2015 and 12th in 2014, becoming the first Division IA squad to make the final round in its debut year since 2004. The Crimson Girls advanced to the finals in 2012 and finished 12th in 2017.
"I am proud of what we've accomplished so far," Opheim said, "I am excited to see what happens in Orlando."Â
The cheer routines last two minutes and 30 seconds as 45 seconds must be crowd-leading cheer. The dance routines also last two minutes.
"I know how good they are," Evenoff said. "They need to realize it and leave it all out on the floor."
Competing against the Cougars in the cheer competition will be fellow Pac-12 school Colorado, defending-champion Kentucky, Minnesota, South Florida, Rutgers, Liberty, Mississippi, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Hawaii, Louisiana State, Central Florida, Western Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio State, and Florida State.
The Crimson Girls will compete against fellow-Pac-12 schools, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona State and Arizona, defending-champion Minnesota, LSU, Syracuse, Tennesse, Penn State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Bowling Green State, Virginia Tech, Â Alabama, San Diego State, Rutgers, Temple, Iowa, Florida State, Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Alabama-Birmingham.Â
Over 100 schools are represented internationally in over 12 cheer and dance divisions. Preliminary rounds take place Saturday, Jan. 13 with the top 12 squads advancing to the finals, Sunday, Jan. 14, which will air on ESPN/ESPN2 in March and April.Â
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WSU Cheer and Crimson Girls will hold a national showcase performance, Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at Bohler Gym. Admission is free to come preview the national routines.
The Crimson Girls will compete in the Division IA Jazz Semifinals against 22 other teams, taking the stage at 11:12 a.m. PT/2:12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 13. WSU Cheer will compete in the Division IA Coed semifinals against 21 other teams, taking the stage, Saturday, Jan. 13 at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET. Once again, the Crimson Girls and WSU Cheer received perfect scores through preliminary judging.
"This has been a banner year for cheer regarding work ethic and overachieving as a squad," Spirit Coach Chris Opheim said "I think this is the best atmosphere we've had as a team."
Opheim is coaching WSU Cheer for his sixth-consecutive year, while former Crimson Girl Kaila Evenoff, in her third year at WSU, is coaching the Crimson Girls. Opheim is a former head judge at the competition and a 10-year UCA staff instructor.Â
"It's been a tough schedule for us this year," Crimson Girls Coach Kaila Evenoff said. "But, these young women have stepped up and exceeded every one of my expectations."
Last season marked the fourth-straight year that the WSU Cheerleaders had competed at the competition and the fourth time since 2008 that the squad had competed in any competition. It was also the fourth time since 2009 that the Crimson Girls competed at the UDA Dance Team National Championships. Cheer finished 12th in 2016, 11th in 2015 and 12th in 2014, becoming the first Division IA squad to make the final round in its debut year since 2004. The Crimson Girls advanced to the finals in 2012 and finished 12th in 2017.
"I am proud of what we've accomplished so far," Opheim said, "I am excited to see what happens in Orlando."Â
The cheer routines last two minutes and 30 seconds as 45 seconds must be crowd-leading cheer. The dance routines also last two minutes.
"I know how good they are," Evenoff said. "They need to realize it and leave it all out on the floor."
Competing against the Cougars in the cheer competition will be fellow Pac-12 school Colorado, defending-champion Kentucky, Minnesota, South Florida, Rutgers, Liberty, Mississippi, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Hawaii, Louisiana State, Central Florida, Western Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio State, and Florida State.
The Crimson Girls will compete against fellow-Pac-12 schools, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona State and Arizona, defending-champion Minnesota, LSU, Syracuse, Tennesse, Penn State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Bowling Green State, Virginia Tech, Â Alabama, San Diego State, Rutgers, Temple, Iowa, Florida State, Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Alabama-Birmingham.Â
Over 100 schools are represented internationally in over 12 cheer and dance divisions. Preliminary rounds take place Saturday, Jan. 13 with the top 12 squads advancing to the finals, Sunday, Jan. 14, which will air on ESPN/ESPN2 in March and April.Â
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