The UNA cheerleading squad has attended national competitions in the past, but for the first time in UNA history, the Lions will have their own competitive cheering squad, in addition to the non-competitive cheering squad.

The competitive branch will be the Purple Squad, and the squad that cheers at football and men’s and women’s basketball games will be the White Squad.

Head Cheerleading Coach David “Red” Bullard and Assistant Coach Lyndsie McClure filled spaces on both squads during the May 3 and 4 tryouts. The Purple Squad will consist of 20 cheerleaders, while the White Squad will consist of 12 cheerleaders.

The Purple Squad will work towards qualifying for the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) Nationals in Orlando, Fla. in January, Bullard said.

Bullard helped build several UCA varsity-cheering squads and is now very excited to move on to the university scene and prepare for the national competition. Bullard has had previous experience of almost 10 years of cheering at Northeast Community College and at the University of Memphis.

He said the Purple Squad will have a more time-intensive schedule than that of the White Squad, with practices four days a week, two times a day and cheering at nearly every ballgame.

“It’s hard work getting ready for nationals,” he said. “You really, really, really have to dial in. There can’t be any drops, can’t be any misses. In competitive cheer, we would probably practice more in a week than most football teams or basketball teams would. We pull in at least 20 hours a week in just practices.”

Emily Waldrop, who has been cheering at UNA for three years, said prior to tryouts that she expected her coaches to be selective with their choices.

“I believe our coaches are looking for someone who will help us build the program and help us represent our school well,” she said. “Cheerleading doesn’t have an off season. We are always working and always improving.”

“Scholarships will vary from competitive to the cheer squad.” Bullard

Second-year cheerleader Ashlyn Richter is very excited about the upcoming season.

“I think tryouts this year are just going to be something completely completely different for UNA,” she said. “I think (Bullard) and (McClure) are going to push us to the best of our ability.”

teams or basketball teams would. We pull in at least 20 hours a week in just practices.”

“Cheerleading doesn’t have an off season,” Waldrop said. “We are always working and always improving.”

Second-year cheerleader Ashlyn Richter is very excited about the upcoming season.

“I think tryouts this year are just going to be something completely different for UNA,” she said. “We haven’t had a competition team in a few years, and we just got new coaches and they’re awesome. I think Red and Lyndsie are gonna push us to the best of our ability and they’re going to pick the girls that are right for this team.”