The Northwest Mississippi Community College Dance and Cheer teams attended UDA and UCA spirit camps held at the University of Alabama July 16–19, 2026. During this weekend, the teams had the opportunity to hone their skills and both groups wrapped up the weekend with multiple awards returning to campus with them.
The purpose of UCA's and UDA's four-day training camps is to allow teams to dive deeper into their sport, training and performing. For Northwest, the camps are one of the first steps in preparing for UDA and UCA Nationals season in January. The opportunity is unmatched for building team cohesion and competitive experience.
"Our program thrived and grew so much in the four days that we were there," said Northwest Dance Coach Patrice Christian of Germantown, Tennessee. "The leadership, grit and teamwork they showcased left an impression on everyone they came in contact with. Our culture is absolutely unmatched."
Northwest Dance received various accolades at the camp, including first place for fight song routine, first place in home routine, game day superior, camp superior and leadership award. Christian said that the home routine was especially impressive due to the 11-day turnaround time that still had Nationals-level quality.
"I think this has jump-started our season and has us prepared for football and basketball games," said Northwest Head Cheer Coach Brandon Casey of Hernando. "They even learned what it means to be an ambassador of the college and how to help with events on campus that we always attend."
Northwest Cheer had no shortage of success, including the Most Collegiate Award which embodies what a college cheerleading team should look like and how it represents itself. They also received eight Blue Superior Ribbons. Additionally, Northwest Co-Ed Cheer received first place in overall game day, first place in timeout, second place in sideline, and third place in fight song.
"I went to college cheer camp not just to improve my skills, but to bring back the experience, leadership and motivation that will help my entire team reach new heights later in the season," said sophomore
McKail Calvert of Tupelo.
Northwest's All-Girl squad won second for overall game day, second in sideline, second in timeout, and third in fight song. Coach Casey said that All-Girl was up against tough competition, including D1A teams such as University of Alabama, which makes this all the more impressive.
"Being the only junior college All-Girl team there pushed us beyond our comfort zones, strengthened our bond as a team, and reminded us that growth happens when you're willing to embrace every challenge," said sophomore
Avery Neal of Oxford.
In addition to Northwest Cheer's outstanding performance at camp, the team also achieved a cumulative 3.43 overall GPA for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Both teams look forward to cheering and dancing at Ranger athletic events this fall. For a full list of athletic events, please visit nwccrangers.com.
