St. Edward’s University will be hosting the Texas Collegiate Cheer Championships this month.

The university will be hosting this event along with Nationwide Cheer and Dance, a company founded by St. Edward’s Cheerleading Coach and Spirit Director Ann Mary Carney. The event will take place on March 26 in the Recreation and Convocation Center.

There are only three national-level cheerleading competitions: two in Florida and one in California. However, there are currently no state-level competitions. St. Edward’s has been to the California Nationals for the past three years but was unable to attend this year as the date fell on Homecoming weekend.

To make up for missing the national competition this year, Carney decided to host a competition at St. Edward’s.

“I had been thinking since I first started coaching that someone really ought to host a statewide competition so that teams at the [Division] II and III levels could have a place to compete,” Carney said. “The travel cost to Florida or California is enormous and not possible for many teams out there.”

Carney’s company, Nationwide Cheer and Dance, produces high school cheerleading and dance competitions at state and regional levels to help the programs experience a more competitive atmosphere. The company also promotes safety awareness in cheerleading by networking schools and programs together to make the sport as safe as possible.

Many schools from across the state are participating in the upcoming competition, including Concordia University Texas, Huston-Tillotson University, St. Mary’s University, Howard College, Howard Payne University, the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Mary Hardin Baylor and St. Edward’s, though more may be added. The Nationwide Cheer and Dance award-winning team from Tyler Junior College will also perform between competitors.

The event will include three sections. At 2 p.m., before the competition, there will be a Coach’s Session where Texas college coaches will discuss safety issues and issues pertinent to cheer and spirit-related programs. The cheerleading competition will start at 4 p.m. Teams will perform “show cheer,” group and partner stunt routines.

After the competition, a Texas College Recruiting Clinic will give high school senior cheerleaders a chance to show off for the college coaches of the participating teams, also giving coaches a recruiting opportunity.

Carney said the St. Edward’s cheerleading team has been practicing for the event.

“[We are] working very hard to perfect the routine we have choreographed to compete,” she said.

Freshman cheerleader Alicia McPherson is excited for the competition.

“[It’s] a great idea,” she said.