Tennessee Spirit Vying to Defend National Championships

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee's cheer, dance and mascot teams are preparing for the Universal Cheer and Dance Association College National Championships from April 27-28 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

Tennessee Spirit enters the competition defending two national championships from last year. Tennessee Cheer won the program's first-ever cheer national championship in 2020 in the Division 1A Gameday category, while the dance team claimed its sixth national title with its performance in the Division 1A pom competition.

Smokey, a three-time national champion, recently placed second nationally among Division 1A mascots attempting to qualify for finals. This was Smokey's highest ranking since last winning the title in 2008. All three teams were rewarded with paid bids to the 2021 championship, marking Tennessee Spirit as the only Division 1A spirit program in the nation to claim this elite status with all three of its teams.

"We are beyond honored to represent Tennessee fans, our athletic department and our university with the excellence they all deserve," dance coach Kelley Tafazzoli said. "Our student-athletes have been training all year in the weight room and at practice to put our best routines on the floor in Orlando."

Tafazzoli has been at the helm for each of the dance team's six national titles.

Fans can get a taste of the national championship experience at the annual Tennessee Spirit Friends and Family Nationals Preview on Sunday, April 18 at 3 p.m. ET in Thompson-Boling Arena. All three teams will perform their nationals routines at the event, which includes the dance team's pom, jazz and gameday routines, the cheer team's traditional and gameday routines and Smokey's championship skit performance.

"The support we receive from our administration and community is second to none," cheer coach Chelsea Bowlin said. "This event gives us a chance to show them what we have been working toward, while also giving our teams much needed experience performing in a live environment and in front of a live crowd."

Tickets for the event must be purchased in advance at AllVols.com to allow for reserved seating and social distancing.

In addition to competing at nationals, where the program has claimed a total of 10 national championships since 2000, Tennessee Spirit performs at more than 300 events each year while supporting Tennessee Athletics as well as university, community and corporate partners. More than 70 student-athletes from 16 states comprise the three spirit teams.

For more information, visit UTsports.com/spirit.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee Spirit Vying to Defend National Championships

Related Videos