Takeaway: A strong tradition can be a springboard for success – use your program’s history to inspire current athletes. Holding today’s team to the high expectations set by past champions fosters accountability and hunger. At the same time, each team should be allowed to find its own identity and motivation. Greenup’s resurgence teaches that perseverance and pride can revive any program’s fortunes; no matter how long it’s been since your last win, keep striving and believe in your legacy.

By branching out, she’ll bring even more experience back to her high school team. Live Oak’s recent routines have been highlight-reel material – packed with difficult tumbling passes, creative pyramids, and technical stunts – yet the team consistently “hits” those routines with minimal deductions. That ability to push the envelope while staying clean was on full display at UCA Nationals, where Live Oak clinched the 2024 Large Varsity Division I championship with a remarkable 97.4 scorevarsity.com. It’s clear this program has firmly established itself among the nation’s elite.

Takeaway: Dare to be ambitious in your skills and choreography, but back it up with excellent technique and repetition. Live Oak shows that high schoolers can safely perform college-level difficulty – if they’re trained up through years of conditioning and precise coaching. Building difficulty should be a long-term plan: start developing young athletes early (many Live Oak cheerleaders train in junior high and even youth leagues) and continually raise the bar. Also, focus on consistency under pressure. Live Oak’s big scores come from hitting difficult routines with zero deductions, which requires intense preparation. The lesson for other teams is to dream big but practice even bigger: set goals to add one extra skill or a unique twist to your routine, and drill it until your team can execute it perfectly even on the biggest stage.

Even when Kentucky was narrowly defeated this past season, their presence loomed large. At the 2024 UCA nationals, Kentucky finished third behind two rising programs, yet still earned a remarkable 95.4 raw score (after a minor deduction). The Wildcats remain the team to beat, and their emphasis on fundamentals (like difficult partner stunts and pyramids executed with textbook technique) continues to raise the standard for college cheer.

Takeaway: Never rest on your laurels – compete against your own past best. Kentucky’s “tradition over competition” philosophy can benefit any team, even if you don’t have 25 titles! Identify what your team did well in previous seasons (or even just in practice) and set that as the baseline to improve upon. By internalizing this mindset, you’ll continuously push your skills further rather than playing it safe. Additionally, Kentucky shows the importance of thriving under pressure. Treat every practice like nationals – with focus and intensity – so that when the real pressure hits, you’ll welcome it. Confidence comes from preparation, and UK’s decades of success prove that a culture of high expectations and self-driven excellence yields champions.

Gooch, a Hall of Famer, has instilled a mindset in her athletes to focus on execution over difficulty. UCF’s routine had plenty of difficulty, but importantly, they only included skills they knew they could hit solidly under pressure. The result was zero deductions on finals night, whereas other teams with flashier routines incurred mistakes.

UCF also prides itself on collective teamwork; in addition to the coed cheer win, their all-girl Game Day squad and dance team also achieved top placements, showing the breadth of the spirit program’s strength. Heading into this fall, UCF will be a program to watch as they defend their championship with the confidence of knowing they can beat anyone when they hit. And you can be sure that Kentucky, Alabama, and others will be sharpening their routines to challenge the Knights – making for an exciting collegiate season ahead.

Takeaway: Consistency is king. UCF’s triumph underscores that hitting clean routines can outweigh throwing the absolutely hardest skills if those skills can’t be hit consistently. For teams at any level, the lesson is to train for consistency – condition your routines to hit under all conditions (fatigue, loud crowds, pressure moments). Focus on execution and timing, because a flawless simpler stunt will score better (and look more impressive) than a shaky advanced stunt. Another takeaway is the importance of competitive resilience. UCF had gone a few years without a title, but they stayed hungry and used near-misses as fuel to come back stronger. If you fall short one season, study what went wrong, make adjustments, and come back mentally tougher. Finally, trust in veteran leadership – Coach Gooch’s decades of experience and calm guidance undoubtedly helped UCF handle the nerves of finals. Lean on your coaches and team leaders when stakes are high; their confidence will spread to the rest of the team.

(Keep an eye on other collegiate contenders too: programs like the University of South Florida, which had won three straight championships before UCF unseated them, and the University of Alabama, a perennial top finisher, are all pushing the envelope. And outside the UCA circuit, don’t forget about the NCA College Nationals champions like Weber State University, who have attracted top talent – including star athlete Gabi Butler – and won the 2021 NCA Grand National title with the highest score of any teamweber.eduweber.edu. The college cheer landscape is rich with talent, which means more examples for you to learn from.)

In the all-star cheer world, the level of athleticism reaches its peak. All-star teams are known for pushing creative boundaries and for fierce rivalry at events like The Cheerleading Worlds each spring. This fall, several programs stand out as trend-setters in skills and team culture. Here are a couple of the elite programs – plus one underdog story – that you should watch and learn from:

Takeaway: Embrace innovation and play to your team’s strengths. Top Gun teaches us that cheerleading is equal parts athletic competition and artistic performance. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your choreography – a signature move or theme can make your routine memorable. Encourage your team to try that new stunt or put a twist on a formation; even if it’s never been done, it could set you apart.

Importantly, however, Top Gun never throws unprepared skills – they drill tirelessly to make sure those innovative elements hit. So, innovation must go hand-in-hand with mastery: if you add a unique skill, condition it to the point where it’s second nature. Additionally, foster a positive, close-knit team culture. Top Gun’s athletes often talk about feeling like family, which helps when taking risks – teammates trust each other both in the air and on the ground. A unified team that believes in a creative vision will perform with confidence and swag. In short, dare to lead, not follow, and put in the work to back it up.

A hallmark of Cheer Extreme’s approach is precision drilling of fundamentals (their flyers have beautiful body positions, their baskets are high and clean) combined with innovative stunt engineering. They were one of the first all-girl teams to perform release moves that many thought only coed teams could do. This willingness to pioneer, paired with deep attention to technique, makes them a model team. Their motto “#SE4L” (Senior Elite for Life) also highlights the strong alumni network and mentorship – former athletes often come back to coach or support, creating continuity. As we look to this fall, Senior Elite and their rivals (like World Cup Shooting Stars, Stingray Allstars Orange, and Cheer Athletics Panthers) will surely continue their classic battles, each pushing the other to new heights. For any cheerleader, there’s much to learn from how Senior Elite continually evolves while respecting the core of what makes them great.

Takeaway: Respond to setbacks with determination, not defeat. Cheer Extreme Senior Elite’s journey shows that even elite teams face disappointments – what matters is the response. If you drop a stunt or lose a competition, use it as motivation to pinpoint weaknesses and turn them into strengths. Senior Elite’s improvement from 2024 to 2025 was no accident; it was a product of refocused training and mental resilience. The lesson is to never settle – even champions have to continuously grind to stay on top. Another takeaway is the value of perfecting the basics. Much of Senior Elite’s wow factor comes from superb technique in everything from tumbling to transitions. Strive for cleanliness and form in every skill before upping difficulty. That solid foundation will carry you through pressure moments. Finally, build a support system in your program. Senior Elite benefits from a legacy of alumni and a program-wide standard of excellence. Even if you’re on a smaller team, create a supportive network – cheer on your teammates, learn from those who came before you, and take pride in your team’s identity. A positive culture not only makes training more enjoyable, but it also breeds success.

“You have to 100% believe it to achieve it,”

– Lori McPherson

After their win, the coaches reflected on the wider impact: they hope other small gyms see this and feel inspired that “anything can happen when you are a true team”. They also imparted a valuable piece of advice to their athletes (and really to all of us): celebrate your success, but then get back to work. “Congratulations for a job well done. Now work even harder, because you just proved you could achieve it once—so now go after it again,” the Glory staff said, challenging their athletes to stay hungry. And finally, they live by a motto of “Grateful for Today” – ending each practice by expressing gratitude and humility, win or lose. Maine Stars Glory’s Cinderella story captivates the cheer world, but it was built on very down-to-earth principles that any team can adopt.

Takeaway:  No program is too “small” to dream big. The first step is believing in your goals and cultivating that belief in every team member. As Maine Stars’ journey shows, when an entire team commits to a vision and supports one another, extraordinary outcomes can follow. Team bond and culture are as crucial as skill difficulty – trust and positivity will carry you through the fiercest challenges. Another takeaway is to address your weaknesses. If there’s a hurdle holding your team back (be it stamina on day two, mental blocks, etc.), tackle it deliberately – add a mock competition, do extra reps, seek advice – rather than avoiding it. By overcoming those hurdles in practice, you build the confidence to shine when it counts. Lastly, stay humble and hungry. Even after a big victory, continue to work hard and improve, and always be grateful for the opportunities and friendships cheerleading brings. Maine Stars Glory’s attitude of gratitude and relentless work ethic is something any athlete can emulate.