NEW ORLEANS — In its second week of competition, Xavier University of Louisiana cheer took a big step forward with a third-place finish out of seven teams Friday at the Wolf Pack Invitational at Loyola's The Den.
     XULA's 79.1 points placed it closer to champion Point (80.3) than to fourth-place Mobile (77.35). Martin Methodist was second with 79.25 points.
     "We are scoring well for a first-year program," XULA head coach Glenn Caston said. "These scores reflect the work we've put in the last five weeks and the adjustments we've made since our first meet."
     Loyola was fifth with 75 points, followed by Bethel (Tenn.) with 67.6 and Brewton-Parker with 59.1.
     Caston said competing locally — about two miles from the XULA campus — was beneficial.
     "Our team generated plenty of energy from our fans at this meet," Caston said. "It was a lot different than competing two hours from home last week. It was great to be in New Orleans this time and feed off the love from our fans. Our fans were a big boost to us."
     Also boosting XULA, Caston said, were the cheers from the champion Point team.
     "It looks like we've developed an ally in Point," Caston said. "Their squad sat in front and rooted for us while we performed. They didn't have to do that. But I have to thank coach Lara Beth Griffin of Point for her leadership. It's great to know that another team is rooting for us."
     XULA won't have local fans or Point at its next competition, the Saints Showdown at Grand Rapids, Mich. That meet will be Sunday, and XULA will compete against six NAIA schools from the Midwest. Aquinas College is the host.
     XULA is scheduled to compete third at 10:30 a.m. CST. Live streaming of the Saints Showdown is available here.