PULLMAN, Wash. – For the sixth-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. 18-20, at ESPN's Wide World of Sports at Orlando, Fla.  

WSU Cheer and Crimson Girls will hold a national showcase performance, Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at Bohler Gym. Admission is free to come preview the national routines.

Both the cheer squad and Crimson Girls will compete in two different categories. Cheer will compete in the Division IA Game Day category against 17 other schools, competing in the semifinals, Friday, Jan. 18 at 1:39 PT/4:30 ET, followed by the Cheer Division IA against 24 others, performing in the semifinals the following day, Saturday, Jan. 19 at 11:23 a.m. PT/2:23 p.m. ET. The Crimson Girls are one of 14 teams to compete in the Division IA Dance Game Day with the finals taking place Friday, Jan. 18 and WSU performing at 12:27 p.m. PT/3:27 p.m. ET. The Crimson Girls will then compete against 24 others in the Division IA Jazz semifinals Jan. 19 at 10:51 a.m. PT/1:51 p.m. ET.

"This year we will be competing in two different divisions," WSU Spirit Coordinator and head cheer coach, Jordan Benedict said. "Our traditional routine comprised of both music and a cheer, as well as the new Game Day Division. I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to not only compete more than once, but the opportunity to showcase nationally what a Game Day is like in Pullman. I am extremely confident in both routines, our traditional routine is challenging and visual and really demonstrates the elite level skills that these athletes possess. Our game day routine is engaging and fun to watch and really shows the pride that our student-athletes have for the Cougars. I could not be more proud of these athletes and can't wait to see all their hard work pay off in Orlando."  

Benedict is in her first season at WSU, while former Crimson Girl Kaila Evenoff, in her fourth year at WSU, is coaching the Crimson Girls. 

"Like cheer we will also be competing in the Division IA Dance Game Day, as well as the Division IA Jazz category," Evenoff said. "This years' Jazz piece is very technical as well as emotionally driven. I am so proud of these women and the work that they have put in to paint a picture that not only shows their raw talent but also shows their commitment for their sport. This routine has challenged them to go outside their comfort zones as performers and has really brought them together as a team, as a coach that is all I can really ask for."  

Last season marked the fifth-straight year that the WSU Cheerleaders had competed at the competition and the fifth time since 2008 that the squad had competed in any competition. It was also the fifth time since 2009 that the Crimson Girls competed at the UDA Dance Team National Championships. At the 2018 championships, Washington State University's cheer squad placed sixth and the Crimson Girls finished eighth in the finals, both best finishes in school history. 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.

The cheer routines last two minutes and 30 seconds as 45 seconds must be crowd-leading cheer. The dance routines also last two minutes.

Cougar cheer will face several teams, including defending-champion Kentucky and runner-up UCF, as well as fellow-Pac-12 schools, Washington and Colorado.

The Crimson Girls will face defending-champion Ohio State and last year's runner-up, Minnesota, as well as the Pac-12's Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Oregon.