Louisiana’s Xavier University Cheer Team, the XULA Gold Rush, took home the 2022 NAIA National Championship Competitive Cheer trophy with the highest point ranking in NAIA history.
According to Sports Illustrated, this is the school’s first victory—in any sport—making this moment a historic win for both the school and HBCUs alike, led by Coach Glenn A. Caston.
A very special CONGRATULATIONS to my coaching & educational mentor Glenn Caston Head Coach of Xavier University’s @xula_cheer on becoming the 1st HBCU to win the NAIA National Competitive Cheer Title📣🏆. He continues to break barriers & pave the way💛⭐️ #HistoryMakers #HBCU pic.twitter.com/RsVYCvTVzT
— alissa perry (@alissainfla) March 13, 2022
The 6th Annual Competitive Cheer and Dance National Championship event featured 15 cheer teams from across the nation held in Ypsilanti, Michigan, at the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Sports Illustrated reports that the XULA Gold Rush team qualified for the NAIA championships with eight automatic qualifiers and seven at-large bids. After completing the preliminary rounds earlier this month, The Gold Rush made a second appearance in the competition of12 dance teams that competed from Mar. 11-12.
The NAIA is the only athletics association to offer a national championship for cheerleading and dance in the nation. Over the course of 22 years, Competitive Cheer and Dance is the first to earn a national championship status in the NAIA.
Not your typical third-year program. Champion @xula_cheer‘s 93.70 set an #NAIA nationals record for highest score.#TeamGold #HailAllHailXU #NAIATogether #NAIACheer #HBCU @XULA1925 @HBCUGameday @TheYardHBCU @MyBCSN1 @DrKenyattaCavil @DMoutonWWL @ShariefWDSU @kentrahan @MyBCSN1 https://t.co/AIGdhLV7ml
— XULA Athletics (@xulagold) March 13, 2022
Second place was given to Indiana Wesleyan who also made history with their best number ranking. St. Ambrose finished third for their third consecutive year, Dickinson State placed fourth, and Hosts Concordia University-Ann Arbor finished in fifth place.
Surprisingly the reigning NAIA Champs, Oklahoma City, placed sixth making this the team’s first time not making it into the Top Two.
Friday’s preliminary performance was valued for 25% of each team total and Saturday’s final performance made up for 75% of each group’s ranking.
The teams ranking the highest point score on the first day of preliminary’s had the advantage in the competition held on Saturday.
The top 15 rankings are listed below:
- Xavier University (La.) – 93.70
- Indiana Wesleyan University – 92.58
- St. Ambrose University (Iowa) – 92.17
- Dickinson State University (N.D.) – 90.04
- Concordia Ann Arbor (Mich.) – 88.82
- Oklahoma City University – 85.88
- Midland University (Neb.) – 85.59
- University of Pikeville (Ky.) – 83.83
- Georgetown College (Ky.) – 82.07
- Missouri Valley College – 81.82
- Point University (Ga.) – 80.99
- Missouri Baptist University – 80.72
- University of Mobile (Ala.) – 79.05
- University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) – 76.81
- Friends University (Kan.) – 68.22
