Daytona Beach, Fla. – The Lenoir-Rhyne University Spirit Team placed first overall with its performance in the Division II Gameday division of the 2019 National Cheerleading Association (NCA) Championships to claim a National Championship. The Bears finished in second place a year ago and completed the season-long goal of winning it all in 2019.

The Bears sent cheerleading-only teams to past NCA Championships but this was their second year under Head Coach Christy Creson to perform as a group in the Gameday Division event. This was Creson's ninth season at the helm of the program and her first title as head coach.

According to Creson, "I knew when the Gameday Division was created, it was made for us! We thrive to create the best Gameday in D2 before there was a championship to win." Creson was assisted this season by Brandi Franklin and Anyea Gibson. 

The field included eight teams that were judged according to the following categories: execution of band chant, skill incorporation, visual appeal, game day material, effective use of game day props, execution of fight song and overall impression. 

The Bears scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in the Game Day Material, Skill Incorporation and Effective Use of Game Day Props while scoring at least a nine out of 10 in six of the seven remaining judgment categories.