St. Ambrose Cheer Posts Record Score in Securing National Three-Peat, Blue Hawk Takes Third With Highest Finish in Program History
April 2, 2025
(Following write-ups courtesy of school's sports information offices)
It took a record-breaking performance, but seeking a three-peat, the SAU Cheer Team was up to the challenge.
St. Ambrose posted the highest score in NAIA Competitive Cheer Championship history to win its third-straight National Title at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Mich.
The Bees finished with an overall score of 97.95 to record the highest score in the event, breaking SAU's own mark of 97.27 set just last season.
And SAU needed every point to hold off a talented Xavier (La.) team.
St. Ambrose earned a score of 97.10 in the preliminary round Friday and followed that with a final-round score of 98.23 Saturday. That was just enough to fend off Xavier, who came in second with an overall score of 97.39.
A total of five teams finished with scores in the 90s. Dickinson State (96.38), Saint Mary (92.02) and Indiana Wesleyan (90.70) rounded out the top five in the 12-team National field.
The victory gave SAU its third Red Banner, the most in NAIA Competitive Cheer history.
Dickinson State cheer delivered a historic performance this weekend at the NAIA Competitive Cheer National Championships, finishing third in the nation with a score of 96.38-marking the program's highest national placement ever.
Dickinson State Places Third at Nationals
The Blue Hawks climbed the national ranks with poise and precision, improving on finishes of fourth in both 2022 and 2023, and fifth in 2024. Dickinson State trailed only champion St. Ambrose (97.95) and runner-up Xavier University of Louisiana (97.39) in a field of 15 elite programs.
Dickinson State's score edged out perennial contenders Saint Mary (92.02) and Indiana Wesleyan (90.7), cementing the Blue Hawks' place among the sport's national powerhouses.
Final Results:
It took a record-breaking performance, but seeking a three-peat, the SAU Cheer Team was up to the challenge.
St. Ambrose posted the highest score in NAIA Competitive Cheer Championship history to win its third-straight National Title at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Mich.
The Bees finished with an overall score of 97.95 to record the highest score in the event, breaking SAU's own mark of 97.27 set just last season.
And SAU needed every point to hold off a talented Xavier (La.) team.
St. Ambrose earned a score of 97.10 in the preliminary round Friday and followed that with a final-round score of 98.23 Saturday. That was just enough to fend off Xavier, who came in second with an overall score of 97.39.
A total of five teams finished with scores in the 90s. Dickinson State (96.38), Saint Mary (92.02) and Indiana Wesleyan (90.70) rounded out the top five in the 12-team National field.
The victory gave SAU its third Red Banner, the most in NAIA Competitive Cheer history.
Dickinson State cheer delivered a historic performance this weekend at the NAIA Competitive Cheer National Championships, finishing third in the nation with a score of 96.38-marking the program's highest national placement ever.
The Blue Hawks climbed the national ranks with poise and precision, improving on finishes of fourth in both 2022 and 2023, and fifth in 2024. Dickinson State trailed only champion St. Ambrose (97.95) and runner-up Xavier University of Louisiana (97.39) in a field of 15 elite programs.
Dickinson State's score edged out perennial contenders Saint Mary (92.02) and Indiana Wesleyan (90.7), cementing the Blue Hawks' place among the sport's national powerhouses.
Final Results:
- St. Ambrose - 97.95
- Xavier (La.) - 97.39
- Dickinson State - 96.38
- Saint Mary - 92.02
- Indiana Wesleyan - 90.7
- Northwestern (Iowa) - 89.7
- Cumberlands - 89.37
- Oklahoma City - 88.27
- Missouri Valley - 86.74
- Georgetown (Ky.) - 86.67
- Concordia (Mich.) - 85.23
- Grand View - 83.75
- UT Southern - 81.85
- Florida Memorial - 81.19
- Lourdes - 78.43