The success of USF's cheer squads can't be described as a happy coincidence … or an unexpected circumstance … or even something normal.
Now they are a world-class dynasty.
On Jan. 20, in the UCA/UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship at ESPN's Wide World of Sports, the three-time national champion USF All-Girl cheer team captured the program's first-ever Premier All-Girl University World Cup championship, while competing against squads from around the world. It also earned its first USA Grand Championship, which represented the highest-scoring USA cheer team across all divisions and competitions during the event.
Meanwhile, the USF Coed cheer team earned its first national championship in the Division I-A Game Day competition, while placing second (just 0.02 points out of first place) in the Division I-A Large Co-Ed competition.
Since 2021, USF cheer squads have claimed nine national or world championships in six different classifications.
"It's amazing,'' said Kelly Budnick, in her ninth season as assistant coach for the USF All-Girl squad. "I think it's a combination of the support from our athletic department, the dedication of our coaching staff and the ultimate dedication of our athletes.
"It doesn't just happen a few hours a week at practice. It happens outside of practice. It happens in the classroom. It happens on the field, on the court, in everything they do or whether they're working out at home. All of the aspects of their life play into them being the best they can be. Winning is the byproduct of doing our job.''
Budnick said "her heart is beating so fast I can't hear anything'' when the final judge's scores are being announced.
"It's a moment like you can't describe in a sport like this,'' Budnick said. "It's just pure joy and pride …. Because you know all of the weeks and years of hard work and dedication that have come to that pivotal moment in time.''
Senior Ally Stoyan joined the USF All-Girl squad three years ago and "didn't know what to expect.'' She quickly realized that success was a habit at USF.
"It's a grind,'' Stoyan said. "We practice twice a day for (many) days straight through December and January. It's mentally, physically and emotionally challenging, but we know we can lean on each other and just get through it. The way we pushed through and all played a role, I'm proud of each and every one of us.''
"Hitting the routine (cleanly) was the true win and we were all super-duper excited,'' All-Girls team member Madelyn Hollis said. "We're always chasing that feeling and then the decision is left up to the judges. We felt like our work paid off. All these girls we compete with, they're truly our sisters. It's just awesome to be part of building something really cool like this.''
USF's Coed squad won three straight national championships in the Large Coed division (2021-23), but this was the first title in the Coed Game Day category.
Ronnie Patrick, a Coed squad coach, said establishing a good team culture has been the key to winning championships.
"First, we're looking for people who want to be at USF,'' Patrick said. "It's a long season. So being a part of the university, participating in the football and basketball games, being a student first, then an athlete … all of that helps to create young leaders who can lead the new group coming in.''
Fifth-year Coed cheerleader Erica Scarborough said she has learned how all the little things make a big difference.
"Just working hard and being yourself or the quote that our football team has, 'Be Who You Say You Are,' '' Scarborough said. "It has been so much fun, but it's also so rewarding because we know how hard we work. To consistently get better each year, that is such a great reward.''
"All of this makes me really proud,'' fifth-year Coed cheerleader Ramsey Robinson said. "It makes me feel like I'm living something for the people who are coming after me — a legacy and something to look forward to.''
At national and world competitions, USF has earned a reputation for excellence. There's a championship expectation.
"Pressure is a privilege,'' Budnick said. "We preach that constantly within our team. To do our best and get that feeling at the end of the day, where hitting (a clean routine) is really what it's all about, we know we've done all we can as coaches and athletes. That's really what we look for.
"The emotion, the passion, the energy, the excitement, the heartbeat … it's the most phenomenal feeling in the world when you see them accomplish something that you knew all along they were capable of doing.''
The USF All-Girl cheer squad, led by head coach Sandy Clarke and coaches Leighton Clarke, Jessica Sherman, Kayla Rivera and Budnick, includes Adriana Figueiredo, Ally Stoyan, Anastasia Pargoe, Annabella Maldonado, Annie Herceg, Ashley Hochberg, Cailee Cuffle, Camryn Rausch, Dakota LaPointe, Ella Alberti, Ella Harrelson, Emily Ellstrom, Gabrielle Healis, Halle Weber, Hannah Lombardo, Haylee Apostoloff, Hollyn Cate Henderson, Isabella Guerra, Isabella Harris, Isabella Watson, Jaelin Morales, Kaitlyn Merriott, Katelyn Blalock, Kathleen Shapiro, Kayla Dick, Kayla Policky, Kayla Steiner, Kierra Lane, Kiersten Worth, Krysta Vinacco, Kylie Chalmers, Lanie Mullowney, Leilani Gillie, Madeline Gautreau, Madelyn Hollis, Makayla Johnson, Maliah Ringham, Marissa Smith, Melanie Kral, Paris Seagrave, Regan Williams, Riley Guell, Rylee Zais, Ryleigh Hajek, Samantha Radzwilka, Sasha Payne, Sophia Herrera, Taryn Brown, Taylor Hargrave, Vivianne Falkstein and Zaniyah Anderson.
The USF Coed cheer squad, led by head coaches Ronnie Patrick and Gillian Guadagnino, plus assistant coaches Noah Webb, Adarius Payne, and Annalise Shaffer, includes Ashlyn Pinner, Brandon Gray, Cayla Cabanban, Delaney Poranzinski, Dylan Tardie, Eric Zell, Erica Scarborough, Fallon Wolff, Felice LaFevre, Gabriel Hopkins, Gabriel Oliveira, JaLynn Williams, Jay Crump, Jordan Wilson, Joseph Apisa, Kaleb Kelley, Katie Ross, Kayla Unterweiser, Kenzie Davis, Lindsey Nichols, Logan Keester, Maddy Redo, Madison Copper, Ramsey Robinson, Sarah Wood, Stephon Ramos-Benavides, Taylor Stables, Thomas Crawford, Trent Hayden, Xander Hawkes, Zachariah Jacobs, Zachary Copper and th Rocky mascot.
–#GoBulls–
