Cheerleading competed five squads and each one finished in the top six with two earning silver medals in their Division I debut at the 2026 NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Team National Championships April 9-11 at the Band Shell and Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Lions All-Girl Intermediate and Large Coed Intermediate teams each took second, the Advanced All-Girl squad finished fourth, and the Intermediate and Advanced Small Coed squads each took sixth.

In the All-Girl Intermediate preliminary round, the Lions put forth a spectacular routine that achieved the highest event score, but a lower performance score of 95.213 due to some deductions, however it was still worth second place in a field of 31 teams, just over a point behind leader Maine – Orono and more than a point ahead of third place Stephen F. Austin State University.

In the finals, the Lady Lions had a much cleaner routine with fewer deductions and improved their performance score by over a point, but it was not enough climb to the top spot. They solidified second place with an event score of 96.2824, coming up less than 0.2 points short of catching California Baptist University which leaped to the top spot all the way from fourth in prelims.

In the Division I Large Coed Intermediate prelims, Lindenwood and Stephen F. Austin separated themselves from the rest of the pack with the Jacks posting an

event score of 96.1111, followed by the Lions in second with 94.5255, well over four points ahead of third place North Carolina – Wilmington. Lindenwood duplicated its event score in the finals to secure second place behind Stephen F. Austin.

In the Advanced All-Girl prelims, the Lady Lions earned an event score of 90.425 for fourth place behind the University of New Hampshire in first, California Baptist in second, and Utah Valley in third. The top four remained the same after the final performances.

The Lindenwood Intermediate Small Coed squad had some minor miscues in the preliminary round, resulting in some deductions, but still posted a performance score of 90.463. That was enough for fourth place in a field of 16 teams, but just over four points behind leader Wichita State. A better routine in the finals gave the Lions an event score of 91.6782 and moved them up to sixth place. Tarleton State took the title, followed by the College of Charleston, the Shockers, Northeastern, and North Carolina A & T.
 

In Division I Advanced Small Coed competition, Lindenwood struggled with some miscues and deductions, resulting in an event score of 83.3458, but still held fourth after prelims. In the finals, the Lions had some more struggles getting cleanly through their routine and dropped to sixth. Weber State claimed the championship, with Central Arkansas, New Hampshire, Stephen F. Austin, and North Florida rounding out the top five.

Lindenwood placed two squads in the top 10 of the Divison I All-Girl Group Stunt finals. The team of Izzy Wind, Ashtyn Seymour, Sarah Cross, and Kendall Rabick finished tied for sixth, and the team of Abby Rogers, Jasmin Crouch, Kenzie Barrington, and Bri Michaels tied for 10^th.

Director of Spirit Squads (Cheer and Dance) Carrie Nichols is extremely proud of the debut made at the Division I level.

"Although a title was not won, we made an amazing entrance in this new and extremely talented competition," she said. "To be that close already is a good sign for

our teams. By bringing home two silver medals in cheer competition, I think we made a statement. These Lions are on the hunt! On behalf of all the cheer and dance coaches, we are extremely proud of the debut we made in Division I."

This year marked the 23^rd consecutive year (no competition in 2020 due to COVID) that the Lions have attended the NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Team Championships. They have won a total of 16 open and Division II titles prior to this, their first year at the Division I level in 2026.

 

 

Intermediate All Girl Division I Finals
RNK	PROGRAM/TEAM NAME	RS	DED	PS	ES
1	California Baptist University	87.6667	0	97.4074	96.4769
2	Lindenwood University	87.2	0.25	96.6389	96.2824
3	Stephen F Austin State University	86.2333	0.25	95.5648	95.1806
4	Morgan State University	85.7667	0	95.2963	94.4491
Intermediate Large Coed Division I Finals
RNK	PROGRAM/TEAM NAME	RS	DED	PS	ES
1	Stephen F Austin State University	87.3333	0.5	96.537	96.1111
2	Lindenwood University	85.5667	0	95.0741	94.5255
3	Univ of North Carolina-Wilmington	82.9667	2	90.1852	89.8634
4	Charleston Southern University	80.2333	0.75	88.3981	88.2685
Advanced All Girl Division I Finals
RNK	PROGRAM/TEAM NAME	RS	DED	PS	ES
1	University of New Hampshire	96.7333	0	96.7333	96.675
2	California Baptist University	95.5333	0	95.5333	95.4792
3	Utah Valley University	94.1	0	94.1	94.0583
4	Lindenwood University	92.6	3	89.6	90.425
5	California State Univ Northridge	84.6	5.5	79.1	80.3417
Advanced Small Coed Division I Finals
RNK	PROGRAM/TEAM NAME	RS	DED	PS	ES
1	Weber State University	96.1667	0	96.1667	96.0125
2	University of Central Arkansas	92.6333	0.25	92.3833	91.8792
3	University of New Hampshire	89.4667	0	89.4667	89.375
4	Stephen F Austin State University	87.6667	1.25	86.4167	86.275
5	University of North Florida	86.2333	1.75	84.4833	83.7042
6	Lindenwood University	85.7	3.25	82.45	83.3458
7	Campbell University	80.2667	3.75	76.5167	76.2834
Intermediate Small Coed Division I Finals
RNK	PROGRAM/TEAM NAME	RS	DED	PS	ES
1	Tarleton State University	85.4333	0.25	94.6759	94.1273
2	College of Charleston	84.9	0.25	94.0833	94.0903
3	Wichita State University	84.3667	1.75	91.9907	92.6875
4	Northeastern University	84.4	1.5	92.2778	92.4861
5	North Carolina A&T State University	83.9333	0.75	92.5093	92.4375
6	Lindenwood University	83.1	0.25	92.0833	91.6782
7	Sacramento State	83.3667	2.25	90.3796	90.7268
All Girl Group Stunt Finals
RNK	PROGRAM/TEAM NAME	RS	DED	PS	ES
1	University of Alabama	72.4	0	96.5333	96.5333
2	Morehead State University	71.3	0	95.0667	95.0667
3	Weber State University	70.9	0	94.5333	94.5333
4	University of Delaware	69.7	0	92.9333	92.9333
5	University of Oklahoma	69.4	0.25	92.2833	92.2833
6	Lindenwood University	68.9	0	91.8667	91.8667
6	University of Louisville	68.9	0	91.8667	91.8667
8	Southeastern Louisiana University	69.3	0.75	91.65	91.65
9	University of West Georgia	69.1	0.75	91.3833	91.3833
10	Lindenwood University	68.3	0	91.0667	91.0667
10	University of South Florida	68.3	0	91.0667	91.0667
12	University of South Florida	67.2	0	89.6	89.6