386 MTSU CHEERLEADERS CROWNED NATIONAL RUNNER-UP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2006

CONTACT: Jonathan Pursley(615) 494-8907

MTSU CHEERLEADERS CROWNED NATIONAL RUNNER-UP

(MURFREESBORO, TENN) – The Middle Tennessee State University Cheerleading Squad came home from Daytona Beach, Fla., this weekend as the national runner-up— the university’s highest finish in four years of competing at the National Cheerleading Association /Chick-Fil-A Collegiate Nationals.
Entering the final round of the NCA Collegiate Nationals in 6th place, the MTSU squad nailed a near-perfect routine in the finals to secure the title of national runner-up in the small coed division, finishing second only to perennial cheerleading powerhouse, the University of Louisville.
“I’m so proud of what this group of students has accomplished,” said MTSU Jonathan Pursley, head cheerleading coach. “We overcame a few minor errors in the early rounds and finished with our strongest routine of the year. This is a shining moment in the history of MTSU’s cheerleading program.”
The MTSU squad was composed of four males and 19 females from the co-ed and all-female squads. Members include: Raquel Sosa, Tara Abernathy, Carling Hughes, Lisa VanSickle, Anna Brogden, Christa Jensen, Amy Koelz, Rose Wamback, Alli Bosley, Stacy Bullock, Mindy Shaffer, Kayla Turner, Samantha Rogers, Ashley Sizemore, David Miller, Jennifer Wilson, Joseph O’Field, Tommy Graham, Kaci Dupree and Orry Clayborne.
The competition is the largest collegiate championship in the country, with more than 200 teams competing in 12 divisions. In securing the title of national runner-up, the MTSU squad beat out 13 other Division I small coed squads from around the United States.
“With this title under our belt, MTSU has placed itself among the premier cheerleading programs in the country,” said Renee Hathaway, assistant cheerleading coach. “The future is bright for this program.”
The competition is set to air on Tuesday, May 2, at 2 p.m. (CST) on Fox Sports Net (check local listings).
Tryouts for the 2006-07’ squads will be held April 21-23, 2006. For more information about the program, visit www.mtsu.edu/~mtcheer.