News Post

The SJA Cheerleaders are the national champions for the sixth year in a row. The team finished first in the DII field, Super Varsity Division, at the 2026 National School Spirit Championships (NSSC), held January 30-February 1 at Walt Disney World Resort.

SJA was in first place after the semifinal round, even with two stunt falls. The cheerleaders then hit their routine for the seventh time this season during the final round, scoring an 89.65 and garnering compliments from the judges for “great transitional motions and energy throughout the routine.”

First-year coach Raul Vazquez expressed pride in his squad that included 16 out of 29 athletes taking the nationals floor representing SJA for the first time. “Although this is my first national championship with SJA, it is an honor to be able to maintain the championship standard set by previous teams and add a sixth win to the streak,” he said. “This team stayed resilient and never lost its determination despite the various challenges we faced throughout the year, and I could not be more proud of each and every one of them.”

Faculty Moderator Lauren Sommer said that even with the challenges the cheerleaders faced, they maintained focus throughout the year. “It never stopped this team from putting in the work every single day,” she said. “This team just blows me away. The skills get harder each year, and these athletes push themselves to rise to the challenge. The pressure to continue the winning streak builds each year, as well. To say that I’m proud of this team is an understatement. The leadership, teamwork, resilience and camaraderie of this team are truly unmatched.”

Captain Madison Larussa said the national competition was a special and unforgettable experience. She said it was a joy to witness the squad’s hard work paying off on the biggest stage. “I wouldn’t trade a single second for the world,” she said. “Competing in Orlando, I felt so proud of this team for trusting each other, giving it their all, remembering our ‘why’ and executing such a difficult routine. What I’ll always remember is my teammates and the bonds I have built over these past four years. This team is so special, and I’m proud to continue the legacy.”

Captain Soleil Joseph said that it was an honor to continue the legacy begun by the 2021 cheerleaders and to extend the string of consecutive national titles. “I couldn’t be prouder of the performances that were shown,” she said. “Something that I will always remember about this big win is the hard practices that these girls helped each other through and how we were able to leave it out on the mat one last time as a team.”

Co-captain Lily Clark said that each championship is even sweeter than those which came before it. “Bringing home this national title feels so amazing because it makes all of the hard times throughout the season feel worth pushing through,” she said. “It feels amazing that my senior year, we got to put such a difficult routine out on the mat. Every single year, our routine gets more difficult, and I am proud that my team put in the effort to execute such a complex routine at nationals. Out of my 12 years of cheerleading, I have never been so close to all of my teammates. We bonded over so many obstacles this season, and getting to win it with them for the last time made my last nationals so memorable.”

Co-captain Brenley Cazes said winning nationals is a feeling that never gets old. With so many changes heading into this year, the girls had to lean on each other to reach the pinnacle. “We had to remember the reason we love this sport and never give up,” she said. “We showed up every day with a positive attitude and the mindset that everything is earned, not given. Stepping onto the nationals floor, all I felt was pride. There was no fear on that mat, only faith and joy. This was the most difficult routine we’ve ever performed, but what mattered most was the way we trusted each other through every count, every skill and every moment. This team’s bond isn’t just strong, it’s unbreakable.”

Junior Riley Falgoust said hard work forged the path to the program’s sixth consecutive championship. “The performances weren’t our very best, but they were for sure something to be proud of,” she said. “Our coach said, ‘I am not asking for perfect skills, I am asking for perfect effort,’ and that is what we gave. This team grew so close and went through many hardships together, and being able to go out and compete one more time with this exact team and win our sixth national title in a row is something I will remember forever.”

Sophomore Adriah Brown said that she takes a great deal of pride being part of such a successful program. “It also shows how much hard work and dedication this team has put in over the years,” she said. “We continue to work hard not only for ourselves, but also to keep the legacy going for the alumnae, our coaches, our parents and everyone who has supported us along the way. The journey to nationals required long practices, teamwork and trust in one another, and it all paid off in the end. We were not just winning for ourselves, but for everyone who believed in us.”

Freshman Lucy Ritter said she has never experienced the special bond shared by the entire team. “These girls are like my sisters, and I would not want to have this experience with anyone else,” she said. “I will always remember the proud looks on the faces of our coaches and our seniors as they announced us as the national champions. I also loved becoming friends with so many different teams and meeting new people. I truly cannot thank God enough for every single girl on the team this year.”