The Road to a Championship and Beyond

 

The road to winning the national championship starts with a lot of hard work and sacrifices, individually and as a team.

 

The Westcliff Cheer and Dance program poured every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears into their craft and were rewarded as they lifted the 2023 NCA, NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance National Championships this spring in Daytona Beach, Florida.

 

Head Coach Eric Anderson is the leader of this talented group: "My first vision and goal for the team was to establish more of a presence on campus, raise school spirit and pride amongst the Athletics program and be more involved in the community. 

 

"Our main goal as a team was to bond better, improve our training, and improve on our performance and placing from last year, which was winning Nationals."

 

The Warriors had a successful 2022 and were close to lifting the trophy last year as they took second place at the NCA, NDA national championships in Las Vegas.

 

But it wasn't meant to be, so it was back to the drawing board, putting in the work, and going through the hurdles to get to this spot again in 2023.

 

Westcliff qualified for the 2023 Nationals back in July at the NCA College Cheer and Dance camp in Las Vegas.

 

After that, the team had performances scheduled at local high school competitions and community events as they prepared for the big one.

 

They only perform one routine at nationals that lasts two minutes and 15 seconds.

 

The routine is judged on Standing Tumbling, Running Tumbling, Partner Stunts, Pyramids, Basket Tosses, Jumps, and overall performance/ choreography.

 

Over 500 teams participate in the competition and only a handful of teams make it to the final. 

 

There are schools of every division present: DIA, DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, and Junior College.

 

"We compete in the NAIA Advance Large Coed division, the hardest division in the NAIA," said Anderson. "We performed three times. Once in the prelims, then finals for the NAIA Division, and then the third time in the Overall Grand Championships round against all the teams in Advance Large Coed."

 

On the day of the national competition, what were your expectations and message to the group?

 

"My expectation for the team was first to be fully prepared for this event and just be Westcliff," said Anderson. "If you do exactly what we do in practice we will be fine. Don't doubt yourself and always remember, you belong here and you are a serious contender for the title. 

 

"Believe in yourself!"

 

After all was said and done, the Cheer and Dance team added another championship to an already successful 2022-23 year for Westcliff Athletics.

 

And it's just the beginning, because the Warriors are hungry for more, especially after experiencing recent success.

 

"At Westcliff, I hope we proved to everyone how good we are and what caliber of athletes we are," said Anderson. "We are the best in the NAIA. 

 

"In the community, I hope we proved to everyone that we are one of the best college cheer programs in the nation and we are going to be even better."

 

Anderson also highlighted his coaching staff and the amazing job they do to prepare the athletes to perform at the highest level.

 

"I also have to mention I have three amazing assistant coaches Brian Jones, Johnny Castro, and Edith Cui," said Anderson. "They are very dedicated to being the best they can be. 

 

"There is a saying that it takes a village."

 

Often, the cheer and dance team is the support system for the other programs at Westcliff, but they also have supporters from everyone in the athletic department.

 

"To win a title like this it not only takes good coaching and training but it takes a lot of support from the athletic department," said Anderson. "We are a very blessed program to have a Dean of Athletics who respects our sport and supports us fully.  

 

"I would also like to add that a number of coaches and teams at Westcliff are some of our biggest supporters as well."

 

So, what's next for this championship-caliber program?

 

"Growing the program, we are looking to add another team," said Anderson. "Recruiting more talent and 5Cs Athletes.

 

"We set a standard. It doesn't mean we always have to win but we have to train and perform at a certain level."

 

Westcliff Athletics is being recognized and talked about as more success stories are developed.

 

The Westcliff Cheer and Dance team are part of a bigger movement occurring at Westcliff University and we just have to sit back and enjoy those high-flying, acrobatic, and electrifying performances.

 

Because all those performances helped the Warriors be crowned the 2023 NCA, NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance National Champions.

 

Let's enjoy what the Warriors accomplish from here and beyond.