Daytona Beach, Fla. — The Central Methodist cheer program delivered a standout performance at the NCA Collegiate Cheer National Championship this past weekend in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The Eagles earned a runner-up finish in the Intermediate Small Coed NAIA division—marking the program's highest national placement since 2022.

After entering prelims as the fifth seed, CMU showcased resilience and competitive growth across both rounds, culminating in a standout finals performance that vaulted the Eagles to second place overall.

In the preliminary round, CMU posted a raw score of 72.3333 but was hampered by deductions totaling 6.0, resulting in a performance score of 74.3704 and an event score of 80.3218. Despite the setback, the Eagles remained within striking distance of the top programs, including Morningside, Friends, and Aquinas College.

Heading into finals, Central Methodist delivered its strongest routines of the season, improving their raw score to 74.3. That cleaner execution elevated their performance score to 82.3056, securing an event score of 80.3218 and propelling CMU past multiple teams into second place overall.

Morningside University claimed the national title with a zero-deduction routine, while Friends University, Aquinas College, and the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy rounded out the top five.

The Eagles' ability to rebound from prelim adversity and execute under pressure in finals underscores the program's upward trajectory on the national stage. The second-place finish sets a new benchmark for the program moving forward.

To view the full results from the event, please see below.