Results
Photos (see video below)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Warrior Cheer team's return to Daytona Beach has been a successful one thus far — despite the challenges of getting here.
With a great performance on the iconic Bandshell stage, the Stan State cheer team finished second in the prelim round on Thursday with a score of 92.90, behind only Valdosta State (94.77). The Intermediate All-Girls Division II class had 14 entries, including defending champion Central Oklahoma.
"Today was a great day for this program," coach Michael DeGuzman said. "We had a plan about how we wanted to approach these performances. We prepared for this moment and they executed. As a result, we are able to move on to tomorrow's finals."
Central Oklahoma failed to qualify for finals during prelims and must advance by winning Thursday evening's Challenge Cup.
The Warriors are ahead of third place Dallas Baptist (91.55), Gannon (91.52), Pittsburgh-Johnstown (91.13), West Liberty (90.78) and Oklahoma Baptist (90.70).
Stan State will be the second to last team to hit the floor during the Final round at the Ocean Center on Friday. Approximate time is 11:51 a.m. Eastern Time.
Less than six hours from departing Turlock early Wednesday morning for San Francisco International Airport, the team learned that its flight to Orlando was canceled. After working with Southwest Airlines, the team was split up into three flights out of Oakland. All but two members of the travel party reached Daytona in time for practices Wednesday night, but the last group did not arrive at the hotel until 10:15 p.m. Eastern Time.
"We had some major challenges getting here, but by the grace of God we all made it here safely. (The ladies) regrouped and went out there and showcased their hard work (on Thursday)," added DeGuzman.
This is the second consecutive year that the cheerleading program at Stanislaus State has competed at this event, sanctioned by the National Cheerleading Association. This national championship competition is the largest in the country and considered the equivalent to the NCAA Championships.
In 2017, the Warriors finished sixth overall in the division in their NCA debut.
