LU Cheer earns third at NCA Nationals, cracks winner’s circle in second appearance

Lamar University's cheer team earned a third-place finish at the 2025 National Cheerleaders Association College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla., marking a major step forward for the program.

In only their second year competing at the event, the Cardinals improved on last year's fourth-place finish to claim a spot in the winner's circle, reserved for the top three teams in each division.

"We knew we were close last year," head coach Megan Thompson said. "This year, we focused on mindset and team bonding. We read a book together, 'Your Mindset is Your Superpower,' and really tried to build a positive team culture."

That focus paid off as the team delivered a strong performance on the national stage. Thompson said having experience from last year helped the team stay calm and focused.

"Last year we were nervous," she said. "This year, we knew what to expect. The veterans on the team helped guide the newer athletes, and everyone had each other's back."

For Thompson, a Lamar alumna, the achievement carried personal meaning.

"This was a full-circle moment for me," she said. "When I was on the team, we dreamed of competing at nationals. Now, I get to lead them there as a coach. It means everything."

Thompson said the program's national recognition reflects the broader success of Lamar athletics in recent years.

"It's not just us," she said. "Baseball, golf, basketball, football-Lamar is showing up across the board. Cheer is part of that too."

Her message to the team after the win was simple: "Thank you."

"As a second-year coach, I know it's not always easy to buy in, especially when you haven't seen the results yet," she said. "But they did. They believed in each other and in what we're building."

Looking ahead, Thompson said she doesn't see the higher expectations as pressure.

"I don't believe in pressure. I believe in opportunity," she said. "If we have to go from fourth to third to second to first, that's what we'll do. The goal is to keep making progress and help our athletes fall in love with cheer again."

To learn more about Cheer at LU, visit http://www.lamar.edu/students/student-affairs/recreational-sports/spirit/cheerleading.