DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —
Xavier University of Louisiana competitive cheer is a national champion again.
XULA outscored Westcliff
91.3375 to 89.7166 Saturday to win a National Cheerleaders Association
national title in the advanced large coed NAIA division.
The championship concluded XULA's 2023-24 competitive
season, and it occurred two weeks after the Gold placed second at NAIA nationals in Ypsilanti, Mich.
It's XULA's second national title in five seasons
as a varsity program. The Gold won the 2022 NAIA championship and became the first XULA
team in any sport to win an NAIA-sponsored national title.
For XULA's Glenn Caston — the head coach
since the program attained varsity status — it's his
ninth national title. He coached New Orleans high school teams that won a
combined seven national championships in the NCA, the UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) and
the WSA (Worldwide Spirit Association).
"What a wonderful way to end our season,"
Caston said. "The resilience and determination that this team has shown is unmatched.
This team will never be assembled again, yet it will motivate all future XULA
cheerleaders to keep striving for excellence."
XULA's final record this season was 54-2-1 (.956) in nine competitions.