Daytona Beach, Fla. – The Saint Xavier University cheer team concluded the 2026 season with a fourth-place finish at the National Cheerleaders Associations (NCA) Collegiate Cheer Championships last week in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Cougars were one of eight teams from the NAIA to compete, and they made their first ever appearance at the championships. Overall, over 700 spirit teams for both cheer and dance from the NCAA, NAIA & JUCO from across the country were in action. SXU was also one of multiple schools from Illinois to compete, including Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Joliet Junior College, North Central, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, McKendree, Roosevelt, Southern Illinois & Waubonsee Community College.

• Competing in the preliminaries on Friday, April 10, Saint Xavier recorded a raw score of 73.33 out of a max of 90.00, with a performance score of 80.73 after .75 deductions.
• In the finals on Saturday, the Cougars logged a raw score of 74.83, and they improved their performance mark to 82.90 after .25 deductions. SXU finished with an event score of 82.36.
• The fourth-place draw by Saint Xavier was tied for the highest of any Illinois school, along with Joliet Junior College (JUCO) and North Central (NCAA Division III).
• Hope International University (Calif.) posted the highest NAIA mark with an event score of 93.29.