Iowa State Spirit Squad Competes at National Cheer and Dance Championships

Cyclones earn top placements in several events at NDA and NCA Nationals in Daytona Beach

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:42am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented images of college cheerleaders, dancers, and a mascot in motion, using bold colors to capture the energy and competition of the national championships.Iowa State's spirit squads showcased their talents and school pride at the national cheer and dance championships.Ames Today

Iowa State University's spirit squad, including the cheer team, dance team, and mascot Cy the Cardinal, competed at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) Collegiate National Championship and National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) Collegiate National Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida. While the Cyclones did not capture any national titles, they turned in multiple strong performances, earning top placements in several events.

Why it matters

The annual national cheer and dance competitions are prestigious events that showcase the top collegiate spirit programs in the country. Iowa State's participation and placements demonstrate the strength and talent of their spirit squad and help raise the university's profile on the national stage.

The details

At the NDA competition, Iowa State's dance team medaled in the pom finals with a third-place finish and also placed fourth in the dance spirit rally. The team was joined by the feature twirlers from the Iowa State Marching Band for a 2-minute, 15-second routine. In the NCA competition, the Cyclone cheerleaders competed in the Advanced Small Coed IA Division, finishing sixth out of 14 teams. While Iowa State's mascot Cy placed 16th out of 18 mascots, the winner Georgia Tech Buzz put on an impressive routine featuring creative props and choreography.

  • The competitions took place from Wednesday, April 9 to Saturday, April 12, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
  • Iowa State's cheer team, dance team, and mascot Cy competed at the national events.

The players

Cy the Cardinal

Iowa State University's official mascot who competed in the NCA Mascot competition.

Georgia Tech Buzz

The winner of the NCA Mascot competition, whose routine featured creative props and choreography.

Iowa State Cyclone Marching Band

The university's marching band, whose feature twirlers joined the dance team for certain events.

Iowa State Cheerleaders

The university's cheer team that competed in the NCA Advanced Small Coed IA Division.

Iowa State Dance Team

The university's dance team that competed in multiple events at the NDA competition.

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The takeaway

Iowa State's strong showings at the national cheer and dance competitions demonstrate the university's commitment to its spirit program and the talent of its student-athletes. While they did not capture any titles, the Cyclones proved they can compete with the best programs in the country and continue to build momentum for their spirit squads.