Williamsburg, KY – The University of the Cumberlands cheer team has secured a spot in the 2026 Nfinity NAIA Competitive Cheer National Championship after earning an automatic bid by winning the Mid-South Conference Championship earlier this month. 

The 10th Annual NAIA Competitive Cheer and Dance National Championship will take place March 27–28 at the Stormont Vail Events Center in Topeka, Kansas. 

Cumberlands enters the national championship following a historic season that saw the Patriots reach new heights. UC captured the Mid-South Conference title with a program-record score of 95.08, surpassing the previous program record of 94.05 that was set earlier this season. 

The Patriots opened the year strong with a win at the Indiana Wesleyan University Invite before dominating at the Georgetown Tiger Invite, securing two first-place finishes while posting the then-program record score of 94.05. Cumberlands continued to build momentum throughout the regular season with multiple competition wins before delivering its best performance at the conference championship. 

At the Mid-South Conference Championship in Bowling Green, the Patriots posted a 95.00 in the preliminary round before improving to a 95.10 in the final round, resulting in a 95.08 overall score to secure the conference crown and the automatic berth to nationals. 

The NAIA announced a 15-team field for this year's national championship, with Cumberlands slated to compete 10th in the preliminary round. The preliminary round is set to begin at 4:00 p.m. CT on Friday, March 27, with the final round scheduled for Saturday, March 28 at 10:00 a.m. CT. 

The 2026 NAIA Competitive Cheer National Championship will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network and the NAIA Network. 

With the conference championship and program-record performance, the Patriots will look to carry their momentum onto the national stage as they compete for the Red Banner. 

For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram @UCPatriots, TikTok @ucpatriots, YouTube Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.