Jubilation as Ole Miss Rebels cheer leading Squad ascends new heights

Historic Victory: First in Division I‑A Traditional All‑Girl

At the 2025 UCA College Nationals in Orlando, the Ole Miss Division I‑A Traditional All‑Girl Cheer Team took to the stage and made history. With a semifinal score of 88.5, they secured their spot in Sunday’s finals. There, they reached a breathtaking 91.4, cementing their first-ever national title in this exact category

Head coach Skylar Casey reflected on this milestone achievement:

“I’m extremely proud of this team … the culture and standard that this team set is extraordinary. It’s more than winning, it’s a sisterhood.”

This breakthrough spotlighted not just their gym skills, but their unity, persistence, and belief in one another.

Four UCA Titles in Eight Years

This win is part of a broader pattern of excellence. Over the past eight years, Ole Miss has claimed four UCA national championships:

1. 2018 – D1A All‑Girl Game Day (their program’s first national title)

2. 2022 – D1A All‑Girl Game Day again

3. 2023 – D1A Spirit Program Game Day crown

4. 2025 – Division I‑A Traditional All‑Girl

That’s a powerhouse résumé—demonstrating growth, resilience, and consistent elite-level performance.

Category Definitions & Significance

• All‑Girl Traditional: This classic division highlights foundational cheer elements—stunts, pyramids, tumbling, motions—performed in a stripped-down, “pure cheer” format.

• Game Day: Built to simulate in-game atmosphere, it emphasizes crowd-leading, chants, school spirit, and traditions (things like Ole Miss’s iconic “D‑Fins” signs)

• Spirit Program Game Day: Full-squad competition combining cheer and dance teams to energize and embody the fan experience

Winning across multiple formats demonstrates the team’s versatility and ability to dominate different competitive environments.

 Timeline of Triumphs & Performances

2018: A Game Day Debut and Bachelor’s at the Top

In their early days, under coach Ryan O’Connor, Ole Miss’s all‑girl team claimed national gold in the first-ever D1A All‑Girl Game Day division. Utilizing traditions like the “D‑Fins” signs and sideline energy—hallmarks of Ole Miss culture—they led the field

This championship set a precedent: their skills weren’t limited to sideline routines; they could command a national stage in front of judges and fans alike.

2022: Return to Glory

After several strong seasons, the Rebels recaptured the Game Day crown, this time outscoring the competition with a sensational semifinal score of 97.4333 and a final score of 97.2333 . That was more than raw power—it was polish and emotional intelligence combined.

2023: All‑Girl Meets Big‑Picture Spirit Power

The title came in the Spirit Program Game Day division—where cheer and dance unite to bring the full megawatt in spirit. With a semifinal score of 92.9167 and final of 94.65, it was Ole Miss’s moment to own tradition and choreography across the board.

2025: Pure Power on the Mat

Shifting gears to Traditional All‑Girl, the Rebels conquered with near-flawless technique and energy, earning what may have been their purest, most refined national win yet .

What Makes This Team Tick

Cheerleading at this elite level marries raw athleticism with narrative performance. For Ole Miss, several factors fuel their ascent:

• Structured Program Evolution: Each title reflects intentional strategizing—2018 was Game Day tradition, 2022 deepened those roots, 2023 expanded through unified spirit, and 2025 perfected technical traditional cheer.

• Leadership Cultivation: Veteran athletes and returning starters helped cement cultural standards focused on execution and intensity.

• Choreography + School Culture: Integrating Ole Miss traditions—like chants and crowd interaction—tightens the connection between judges, fans, and performance

• Unwavering Mental Game: Moving across formats requires adaptability under pressure—training both the body and the mind.

• Coaching Continuity: Coaches like Casey and O’Connor crafted environments for athletic growth and personal development—“it’s more than winning, it’s a sisterhood”

 The 2025 88.5 → 91.4 Story

Achieving a near-3‑point jump in finals is a testament to their resilience. Many teams peak in semis and plateau. But Ole Miss amplified:

• 88.5 carried enough momentum—yet reps, last-minute corrections, and adrenaline delivered the final push.

• 91.4 wasn’t just aesthetic—it was precision, endurance, energy, and crowd engagement all firing in sync

Breaking 90 at this level signifies mastery—one of the most remarkable finals showings in modern UCA history.

Cheering Their Way to the World Stage

Although UCA is currently domestic, the ecosystem is moving global:

• The Cheerleading Worlds (held each April–May in Orlando) crown elite all‑star and collegiate teams—but Ole Miss remains internally focused

• Rumblings of cheer in the Olympics and increased TV visibility point to a rising global audience for high-performance cheer.

• Should Ole Miss aim internationally next, their trajectory makes them a serious contender.

Voices from the Sidelines

Part of the winning arc is cultural buy-in:

• Skylar Casey emphasized unity, pride, and community

• In 2018, Ryan O’Connor spoke of translating Ole Miss football sideline atmosphere into judged formats—even the crowd’s “D‑Fins” chants counted toward their edge

And on Reddit, even neutral viewers took note:

“My unpopular opinion of the night is that Ole Miss has had the best choreo so far.”

That’s high praise in a field of elite routines.

What Comes Next?

1. Cement a legacy — Can they string together more titles, or defend their traditional title?

2. International Pursuits — Will they compete in The Cheerleading Worlds?

3. Visibility Boost — With rising spotlight on women’s sports, expect wider coverage on ESPN or streaming platforms.

4. Program Expansion — Beyond titles, they’re building a culture of empowerment, academic success, and athletics.

Summary Table

 Final Thoughts

Ole Miss’s win in 2025 isn’t just another trophy—it’s a culmination:

• Evolution: from debuting in Game Day, mastering traditional, to expanding full spirit squads.

• Consistency: four titles in eight years signal sustainable excellence.

• Range: adaptability across multiple cheer formats.

• Leadership: athletes and coaches who know how to build a winning culture.

• Trajectory: poised for even greater visibility and possibly global podiums.

This isn’t just about a scorecard—it’s about a program building dynamism, sisterhood, and athletic artistry. They’ve already written college cheer history. Next chapters? They might just change the sport itself.