(Daytona, Fla.) --- The SNHU Cheer Team finished in third place at National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College National Championships in Daytona Beach.   The Penmen finished third in the Advanced All-Girl category among Div. II schools.

Senior captain and English Major Ana Tunberg (Derry, N.H.) filed a final from Daytona late Friday night:

We knew the competition was going to be close, so we gave the routine our all. The performance was dynamic, fun, and we improved on a lot from yesterday. We were already proud going into the award ceremony, because we knew we gave it our best effort. We fought to stay on the Podium, and we succeeded, making SNHU cheer history and topping the program record with our 3rd place finish. 
 
This is a big moment for SNHU cheer. The experience was surreal for everyone.  For many athletes, it was a hopeful beginning: "It's everything I imagined since I was 5 years old and watching this competition," says junior Megan Perrault (Tyngsboro, Mass.).
 
For some athletes, this was a bittersweet ending: "My cheer career has been one to remember. I have been through ups and downs but to end my cheer career with SNHU cheer and winning 3rd place in the country makes it all worth it," says Senior Captain Kendra Hicks (Derry, N.H.). "I could not be more proud of this program."
 
For the coaches, it was a moment of pride and also excitement for what's to come in the program's future. "I'm super proud that we managed to hold onto 3rd place in the nation, and I feel like we can only continue to get better. We understand the recipe, it's just a matter of putting into place of what we know works," says Coach Michelle McCarty. "Podium was the goal all along, and we've made it, so 3rd feels like 1st." 
 
Coach Ben King also says, "I'm super ecstatic and grateful to be part of this experience and to have the opportunity to coach these athletes. They showed that even through adversity and hardships, perseverance, dedication, and hard work pays off. We can't control what anyone else does, we can only control what we do and the rest naturally falls into place, which it did for us today. I'm excited as well because this gives our program momentum and sparks a fire to continue to strive for greatness."
 
The future is bright for this program. For some, myself included, this was their last Daytona trip, and for many, it was only their first. Either way, whether it was a beginning or an ending, it was a promising and memorable NCA Nationals for your SNHU Penmen. 

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