Griffin Cheer Returns to UCA National Championships

The Gwynedd Mercy University Cheerleading team is ready to return to the pinnacle of competition as they depart on Friday, January 16, for two days of performance at the 2026 Universal Cheerleader Association (UCA) College Cheerleading National Championships.

The Griffins will join Widener University, Monmouth University, Albright College, and Misericordia University, among other National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III, Junior Colleges, and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) institutions for competition in the Open All Girl Game Day cheerleading division.

"We are bringing a completely new routine to the nationals mat this year! This routine includes higher-level skills, new choreography, and new music of course!" recognized Gwynedd Mercy University Head Cheerleading Coach Heather Charlton. "We are proud of our performance from last year, but we are excited to present our hard work this season to the judges and are back with hopes of making it to the finals this year! We are of course excited to show our community what it means to have the courage, grit, and spirit of a Griffin cheerleader!"

On Sunday, January 11, friends, family, and all supporters are welcome to join us at our send-off showcase as the Gwynedd Mercy University cheerleaders provide a sneak peek of their UCA routine for the last time before competition. At the UCA National Championships, the Griffins and other schools competing in the Game-Day Division Showcase will be asked to perform a three-part routine including a fight song, a situational sideline cheer, and a timeout rally.

Gwynedd Mercy University is scheduled to perform at 8:54 a.m. on Friday, January 16, in the Advent Health Arena North (yellow). Family, friends, and fans of Griffin Cheerleading can stream the performance live on VarsityTV and FloSports.

Interested parties can also follow the team during their trip to the UCA National Championships on Instagram @gmercyucheer.