With a new school record and two more competitions under their belt, the Taylor competitive cheer squad is aiming for their first Crossroads League Championship.
Playing host in sunny Kissimmee, FL on Feb. 15, Taylor broke their all-time single event points record twice, finally shattering the 90-point ceiling. At the Florida Face-Off, Taylor skyrocketed over competitors University of Saint Francis and Point University with a school-record 89.93 score in round one.
That record did not last long. The Trojans notched a 90.40 in round two as Saint Francis’s 83.18 and Point’s 77.61 performances slotted in right behind. Thanks to their impeccable scores, Taylor rose as high as No. 6 in the NAIA, whose rankings are determined by average points per event.
To open March, Taylor hosted again, this time in Odle Arena on March 1. The Trojan Invitational welcomed six other schools, four of which were Crossroads League rivals. In round one, Georgetown took home a first round victory with a score of 89.45, their sole first-place finish on the season. Taylor finished in fourth just 0.45 points behind Saint Francis with a score of 84.2
The Trojans improved above their event average in round two, with a third-place score of 87.23. Saint Francis finished just 0.28 points ahead in second, but Indiana Wesleyan took home the day’s high score with an 89.96.
Taylor University now sits comfortably at No. 13 in the NAIA and is less than one point away from breaking into the top 10, averaging 85.56 points per event. Securing a position in the top 10 is essential for qualifying for the NAIA National Championships, where 15 teams compete. Eight schools automatically earn a spot in Nationals by winning their conference championships, while the remaining seven slots are filled through at-large bids.
Taylor has never made it to the National Championships, coming closest during the 2023 season when they finished the year at No. 16. This year is Taylor’s best shot at making it to Michigan, where the finals are hosted, in school history.
Though No. 18 Marian will look to play spoiler, No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan will be Taylor’s toughest competition at the Crossroads League Championships, averaging 86.30 points per competition. The Wildcats have won all four CL titles in previous years, but they have never faced as stiff competition as this year’s Taylor roster.
Just 0.74 points separate the schools' averages. While the Wildcats may have a better average, Taylor holds the high score between the two. IWU peaked at the Thresher Invitational on Feb. 14 with a score of 88.33, and an 89.97 in round two of the Trojan Invitational. Only Taylor has broken the 90-point mark in the Crossroads League this season.
Mount Vernon Nazarene, averaging 75.32 points per event, will host this year’s Crossroads League Championships, with the prelims on March 14 and the finals on March 15. Taylor’s chance at their first conference championship is in sight, and with another strong performance, a trip to Ypsilanti, MI for the National Championship will be in reach.
