ORLANDO, Fla.—The University of Southern Indiana Cheer Team turned out a strong performance Sunday morning to earn an eighth-place finish in the finals of the UCA & UDA College & Dance Championships.

Participating in the Small Coed Division I competition, the Screaming Eagles posted a clean sheet in the deductions column as they finished with 79.8 points.

Under the direction of Head Coach Megan Ringer, the Eagles have been working since September in preparation for Nationals and the hard work was evident as USI posted a raw score of 80.8 points in the semifinals on Saturday to earn a berth in Sunday’s finals. A one-point deduction in the semifinals slipped the Eagles into a tie for seventh in the prelims.

USI was one of four teams to escape the finals without a deduction and tied with Southeastern Louisiana University for the fewest combined deductions in the semifinals and final rounds.

The Eagles competed in the All-Girl Division I competition for the first time last season, finishing 16th with a final event score of 60.6 points. This year marked the first-time in program history that USI has participated in the Small Coed Division I competition.

USI competed previously in the Open Cheer Small Coed Division prior to 2024, finishing fourth in 2023 and fifth in 2022.