Maine Cheering Places Fifth in Division at Nationals
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine cheering team recently competed in the NCA Collegiate Cheer and Dance National competition in Daytona Beach, Fla. The team placed fifth in the Small Coed One Division, a division of 1AA school with four or fewer males. 
There were 11 teams in Maine's division and the Black Bears placed fifth. The teams that Maine competed against included: Long Beach State, Stephen F. Austin, Weber State, Austin Peay, Albany, Mercer, Illinois State, Boston University, Coastal Carolina and University of Texas at Arlington.
In the first round, Maine missed out of the bandshell, or finals, by .04 of a point. The team then competed in the Challenge Cup in the second round of competition which was for teams that didn't make it to the finals in the first round. Only the winner of the Challenge Cup gets to move to the finals and this year Maine was the winner of the Challenge Cup. Maine beat Weber State, Boston University, Austin Peay and Albany.
The bandshell is the outside venue where the finals were held. It is always an accomplishment to make it to the bandshell as it is the top half of all cheer teams in the division.
There was approximately .06 of a point between first place and Maine's finish.
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