With their latest win, this Utah college is becoming a competitive cheer juggernaut

After winning their division for five years straight, Weber State’s Spirit Squad has become something of a juggernaut in the world of competitive cheer.

But at this year’s NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship, held April 5-8 in Daytona Beach, Florida, Weber State’s team was presented with a new challenge — moving up to the top level of the competition, the Advanced Large Coed Division 1A (the most prestigious level of the competition). This put the Ogden-based team against such schools as Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Weber moved up to 1A level because a few other schools dropped out — and, according to coach Summer Willis, they only found out 18 days before the competition was to start.

And, as they did at the Division 1 level for the last five years, Weber State took the championship at the Division 1A level.

The late switch in divisions didn’t change how the team — which prepared all year for the competition — got ready for Daytona Beach, Willis said.

“As you think about it, would we have strategized differently from the beginning?,” Willis asked. “I don’t think we necessarily would have, because you’re going out there to put out your best.”

Another change Weber State surmounted was a third day of competition. In addition to the prelims on the first day and finals on the second, as has been the norm, organizers added a third day in which the divisional winners went head-to-head. Weber State won that, too — taking the title of Grand Champion in the large coed divisions.

The key, Willis said, was consistency. “We have to train and work really hard to be consistent, because it’s a sport a lot of things can happen,” she said. “To be consistent in all three days, [that] was going to be the person that was going to end up on the top.”

The team aimed to be innovative and take risks with the different skills required — including forming a pyramid and performing stunts with a partner. One of the elite moves was a one-to-one rewind, a flip with one hand.

A highlight of Weber State’s team is the stunt partner team of seniors Elsa Hassett and Michael Pavlovich Androsov, who won the champion title in that competition. Hassett ends her college cheerleading career with six NCA national championship wins and three NCA partner stunt championships.

Although Daytona Beach is barely over, Willis said her returning cheer members are already preparing for next season — which will be Willis’ 25th at Weber State.

“We’re a full year in the making,” Willis said. “The challenges just keep on coming.”