On February 8, the PHS Cheer team competed in the 2026 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship’s Division I Intermediate Finals at Disney World, winning fifth place in the nation. Although this was the first time the team qualified for and competed in nationals, each cheerleader adjusted both their positions and schedules to accommodate extra practices in preparation for the competition.
“Everybody was just willing to make change[s]. … I was moved from one of the back stunt groups in the pyramid to supporting the extension,” said cocaptain Nava Brito ’26. “Everybody just had to be very flexible and change what their positions were to help the team.” To the team, this win was the result of their effort and persistence in preparation for the event. After finding out that they qualified for the Large Varsity Non Tumbling division of the National Cheerleading Championship, and therefore had their season extended, the team had to overcome many obstacles.
“A few of the girls weren’t able to come with us, so we had to switch around part of our routine and ... [we] tried to build up our skills even stronger because we knew this competition would be a lot harder,” said co-captain Suki McNulty ’26.
Competing at nationals in Disney World came with a hefty price tag, and fundraising for the competition was an important part of the preparation for the nationals to ensure they would have enough money to cover travel expenses, housing, and the entry fee. However, they were able to raise enough money by collaborating with local businesses.
“There was [a fundraiser] at Buffalo Wild Wings. There was one with Nomad Pizza. There [was] one with the Ivy,” said Brito. “A lot of parents got involved [who] we were all incredibly grateful for, and I know that a lot of them reached out to big companies and businesses as sponsors, which we wore on the back of our shirts.”
After raising the required $29,000, the team shifted their focus back onto preparing for the competition, working until the routine became ingrained in their memories. In the high-pressure environment of the competition, each cheerleader had to have every move memorized, as any individual mistake could cost the whole group’s performance.
“[During our performance,] we have to trust that we know the routine. A lot of times it’s easy to get in your head when doing a routine like this because there are a lot of parts that are hard,” said Brito. “You could do it in your sleep. So don’t stress and ... [don’t] overthink.”
Throughout the entire experience of competing and participating in the national competition, a common belief amongst the team was that it provided closure to an unforgettable season powered by togetherness and teamwork.
“Getting to be there with the team as our kind of final goodbye,” said McNulty. “It was a great experience to end this season off, and just stay together with the seniors."