February marked another trip to the Universal Cheerleaders Association ( UCA ) Nationals for Bethel Park High School ’ s competitive cheerleading squad . The BPHS Hawks performed two routines at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando , Florida .
In the Medium Varsity Non-Tumbling Division , the squad ’ s Game Day Routine placed eighth in the preliminary rounds , and sixth in the Small Varsity Division for their Traditional ( Mat ) Routine .
The squad was selected to participate in Nationals after placing first at the 2021 UCA Allegheny Regional , held in Pittsburgh . The competitive squad had to earn a bid for both routines in order to compete at the National High School Cheerleading Championship ( NHSCC ). Not every team received a bid — only the teams that scored high enough could qualify .
The team is coached by Kristie Hayes , who has been head coach for the competitive squad for three years , and head coach of the program for two .
“ Watching the reactions from the girls when they finish their routines is one of the main reasons coaching is all
worth it ,” says Hayes . “ The girls were proud of themselves and I was beyond proud . We have come so far throughout the season . After three athletes left our competitive squad , everyone worked hard to make necessary changes to both routines before Nationals .”
This year was not the first time Bethel Park has been to UCA Nationals . The squad has been competing there since 2013 and won first place at the NHSCC in Small Varsity Non- Tumbling Division in 2016 .
Hayes hopes to continue that tradition of excellence and plans to prepare her squad to compete with both routines again in the upcoming season . n
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