With one day already in the books at the UCA/UDA College National Finals, one team from the Minnesota spirit squad are back to back national champions. The Minnesota Gophers Cheer Team was the first Gopher group from Minnesota to perform this weekend, finishing with the highest score in their division in the semi-finals on Friday morning. Their score of 94.2 was almost 5 points higher than that of second-place finisher Penn State.
In the finals on Saturday night, just minutes after the Jazz team finished their preliminary performance in the State Farm Field House, the Gophers Cheer Team was the last team to perform in their division. The routine is filled with high energy, flawless technique, and a flyer that leaves all who are watching in awe. Their final routine score was 96.0 points, two points higher than their semi-final score. They beat out the University of Memphis by two points.
Not only did the Gophers defend their national title, but they also did so with the biggest turnover in recent memory. More than half of the team is new to Gopher Cheer. The team includes 16 freshmen and two transfers. Cheer Team Coach Dan Weaver said, “It was really incredible that we were able to repeat coming in with so many people.”
While the team had new faces, the preparation stayed the same. “One of the things we really prided ourselves on is having a strong Game Day Standard,” said Weaver after their finals performance.
Weaver is proud not only of the Cheer Team’s performance on the mat, but he also said it is a direct simulation of what they do on the sidelines of football games. To see the rewards of the hard work from his student athletes is “awesome and really special”
On feeling the pressure of defending their title last year, Weaver spoke about the humility Minnesotans have, followed by the state’s hard work ethic. But the UCA competition is not just a one-time thing; it is all about the process the Cheer Team is in, starting way back in June of 2025. To keep his team motivated, Weaver mentioned a quote by the great John Wooden. “Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.”
Afterward, his team had finished celebrating, coach Dan Weaver made sure he credited Gophers Cheer Coach Abby DeThorne for the routine that won it all. “She’s fantastic on all things game day; she really keeps a high standard, starting all the way back to August.” Back in the fall, the team goes through a “Coach D Boot Camp” that prepares the girls for the long season ahead.
The Cheer TeamHead Spirit Squad Coach Amanda Gaines rushed over from Minnesota’s Dance Team Jazz performance to see the Cheer Team do their finals routine. After winning it all, Gaines said, “I’m just so proud of the cheer team. I know they’ve been really hungry to just deliver all season. I think last year was such a great moment. There had been so much momentum building up to that win, so to see them really be able to carry that momentum and win again is so great.”
Gaines mentioned to GopherHole that the Small Coed Cheer Team faces unique pressure to start the weekend off by competing and completing their division on the first day. “It’s a great way to kick off the weekend. It builds a lot of confidence.”
One thing that was noticeable on the first day was the unity between all the Gophers teams. When one team is performing, the other teams are front and center, supporting their fellow Gophers. Coach Gaines said that this is credited to the fact that they kick off their season with a whole spirit squad, which includes the cheer team, the dance team, the hockey cheer team, and the mascots. That meeting at the beginning of the season sets the tone for the rest of the year, supporting the University of Minnesota.
The Cheer Team wasn’t the only one in action on the first day of UCA/UDA Nationals.
The Minnesota Dance Team performed their Jazz routine late Friday afternoon, and the 2025 National Title runner-ups look to get back on top since they took first place back in 2023. They are clearly one of the crowd favorites at the event, because as soon as the Gopher Jazz team was announced, the whole building became electric with energy. It was an atmosphere that one truly has to experience in person. The choreographers of the Jazz routine are Gopher alums Ava Wagner and Lauren Busyn. This year, they performed to “Maybe This Time” from the musical Cabaret. The precise, stylized choreography was beautiful and poignant. Minnesota stands out from its competitors with its powerful yet controlled technique and graceful athleticism. Their routine on Friday scored 90.3, which qualified them to head into the semi-finals on Saturday night at 5:17 local time.
Day one was a pretty good one if you are a Minnesota Gophers fan. Day two at UDA is action-packed as all Spirit Square teams will be competing. Stay tuned for more updates!