(Daytona, Fla.) --- The SNHU Cheer Team competed in the preliminaries (Thursday) and will compete in the finals (today) at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College National Championships in Daytona Beach.   The event schedule lists the Penmen performing in the finals just before 4 p.m. Friday.
 
Senior captain and English Major Ana Tunberg (Derry, N.H.) filed a second report from Daytona late Thursday night:

The warm up area was full of energy as everyone cheered for each other. We had the best opportunity warming up next to Weber State University. They were kind and graceful towards us and we cheered each other on the whole way through. It was an astonishing experience with one of the best teams in the country. 
 
Our routine was full of effort, energy, and teamwork all the way through to the end.
"I'm feeling excited and hopeful after our performance today and overcoming our struggles from yesterday," says sophomore and SNHU cheer rookie Hailey Beliveau (Pittsfield, N.H.). "We are ready to work it on the bandshell tomorrow."
 
"I am extremely excited to finally hit the bandshell tomorrow after seeing it on TV all these years," says sophomore Paige Brooks (Nashua, N.H.). "It's been a dream of mine since I was little and started cheer." 
 
Our green team is doing great so far. Coach Michelle McCarty puts it best: "I am so incredibly proud of my young team. Only two of our vets have prior experience taking on the biggest stage in college cheer. Our athletes showed grit and gumption start to finish today. Some clean up tonight and one more performance opportunity tomorrow." 
 
After excellent feedback from the judges, and lots of work from our coaches, we put in some extra detail work to finish up the day. The Penmen cheerleaders are ready for tomorrow. See you tomorrow afternoon on the Daytona Beach Bandshell for one last performance from your SNHU Penmen!

To follow the championships, visit the website varsity.com.    

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