PRCC cheer claims third UCA National Championship in four years

Richard Gleber - PRCC Sports Information Dept

ORLANDO, Fla. -  The Pearl River cheer team continued to set the bar high on the national stage, winning its third UCA National Championship in four years. The Wildcats, under the direction of head coach Sarah Smith, first struck gold on Saturday, winning the 2025 All-Girl Game Day Championship.

“We came into this weekend with four goals, and we checked each one off the list,” Pearl River cheer coach Sarah Smith said. “Our goals were to make game day finals, to hit in game day finals, to make traditional finals, and to hit in traditional finals. We were content with letting the results take care of themselves if we accomplished those goals.”

In their second year competing in the Game Day competition, the Wildcats held onto a minuscule half-point lead heading into the Game Day finals. Not ones to rest on their laurels, Pearl River delivered a nearly flawless routine and captured the All-Girl Game Day National Championship by two points, its third National Championship in team history.  

 “This is only our second year to take on the game day portion of the competition,” Smith said. “It’s a big task, and splitting our time at home between two routines can be challenging. Winning our first game day National Championship was very exciting and fulfilling.”

The Wildcats followed their championship performance, capturing second place in the All-Girl Traditional Championship on Sunday. 

Pearl River won back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023 while placing second in the Game Day competition in 2024.  

“I’m extremely proud of the team and how much work they put into preparing for this weekend,” Smith said. “We are at practice throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays; the girls sacrifice a lot and choose to commit themselves to their sport. It was an honor to represent Pearl River at College Nationals, and we are proud to be adding a third title to the cheer program.”

Members of the team are Chloe Atkins (Purvis), Maddie Cooley (Poplarville), Taylor Davis (Sumrall), Katie Duran (Starkville), Zoey Feazell (Mendenhall), Madison Fraiser (Fairhope), Nailah Gamble (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove), Maddison Graham (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove), Katie Anne Hedgepeth (Picayune), Jordyn Jones (Purvis), Morgan Martin (Purvis), Karson Netto (Vancleave), Kaleigha Nixon (Carriere; Pearl River Central), Addie Norris (Poplarville), I’Maya Oatis (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove), Tamyiah Paige (Hattiesburg; Sacred Heart), Kaeleigh Pannell (Sumrall), Mattie Prince (Sumrall), Anna Richardson (Vicksburg; Warren Central), Kadence Rogers (Taylorsville), Bella Sauseda (Starkville), Hayley Shepard (Vancleave), Camryn Stamps (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove), Sara Scott Stanford (Brandon), Skye Storozuk (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove), Sammi Vaughan (Poplarville), Alee Waters (Petal), Chloe Watkins (Picayune), Abby Bea Williams (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove), Jazamine Williams (Picayune). 

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