NAIA story on 2025 competitive cheer qualifiers

        NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, one of the NAIA's premier competitive cheer programs, earned at at-large bid to nationals Monday evening.
        This is the fifth consecutive season that XULA, a sixth-year varsity program, qualified for nationals. XULA received its bid after finishing second to Oklahoma City at the Sooner Athletic Conference Championship March 8 in Oklahoma City.
        XULA will compete with 14 other cheer teams March 28-29 at the 2025 NAIA Cheer and Dance National Championships. Venue for the fourth straight year will be the George Gervin GameAbove Center at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti.
        XULA's 91.97 points per meet this season rank third out of 71 NAIA teams. XULA is 19-1 against all opponents.
        The other cheer qualifiers are Concordia (Mich.), Cumberlands, Dickinson State, Florida Memorial, Georgetown (Ky.), Grand View, Indiana Wesleyan, Lourdes, Missouri Valley, Northwestern (Iowa), Oklahoma City, St. Ambrose, Saint Mary (Kan.) and Tennessee Southern. St. Ambrose was the champion in 2023 and 2024, and the Fighting Bees outscored XULA 97.28 to 96.91 a year ago — the two highest final scores in the meet's 7-year history.
        XULA won the national championship in 2022 and finished second in 2024. The Gold placed fifth in 2021 and sixth in 2023.
        XULA will compete for additional national titles April 9-12 in the National Cheerleader Association championship meet at Daytona Beach, Fla.