Liberty alumna Alyssa Redding and Freedom alumna Peyton Taylor are members of West Chester University’s cheerleading squad that won the national championship in the Universal Cheerleaders Association’s Open All-Girl Game Day Competition on Jan. 12 in Orlando, Fla.

Redding is a senior, and Taylor is a freshman on the squad of 30 girls, led by first-year head coach Jacqui Kline.

“It was an amazing experience. As soon as they said who was second, we were all freaking out, and as soon as we got announced, we were smacking the floor, jumping up and down, and crying,” Redding said.

West Chester’s routine began with the university’s fight song, followed by a sideline cheer, and then a timeout cheer to the song, Bring Em Out, with pyramids, stunts, and basket tosses.

The Golden Rams beat 37 other cheerleading squads and scored 98.8.

University of Rhode Island was runner-up with a score of 98.4667, and Sacred Heart University (Conn.) was third with a score of 98.4.

The competition consisted of three rounds: preliminary, semifinal, and final. West Chester placed first in every round.

“A big group of freshmen came out this year, but our coach retired, and that brought us together. We got a new coach in August but had to do preseason ourselves. Through all the challenges, we worked together toward the same goal. We had the same mindset that we could win,” Redding said.

“We had a different choreographer this year and used a different song. It was more upbeat and fun. We changed some motions in the fight song and had some different elements in the sideline that caught a lot of people’s eyes.”

In addition to being awarded a team trophy, each cheerleader was given a gold medal for their national championship victory.

Redding will graduate this spring with a degree in elementary education.