ORLANDO, Fla. - SouthPaw, the official mascot of the University of South Alabama Department of Athletics, claimed his first-ever national championship this weekend.
Competing at the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) College Cheerleading and Dance Team National at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Milkhouse, SouthPaw claimed the title in the Open Mascot Finals Division Friday. Although it was the mascot's first national championship competition, SouthPaw was able to defeat defending champion YouDee from Delaware to win the event.
To qualify for the competition, schools submit video of their mascot which is scored based on seven categories, including character development, game situations, crowd involvement, community service, school activities and overall impression. Fifty percent of that score carried over into this weekend's finals.
In the finals, SouthPaw and the other participants performed one-minute and 30-second skits to music. They were scored on crowd appeal and interaction, creativity, animation/enthusiasm, prop usage and overall impression.
Bobby Bearcat of Northwest Missouri State, North Alabama's Leo and Drake's Spike rounded out the top five in the competition.
"SouthPaw is one of the faces of the university, we're doing what we can to help get the school's name out there," USA cheerleading head coach Steve Clanton said. "Entering this competition is something we have been thinking about for a while, but we waited until we knew we could go out and be competitive. Right now we have the right people in the program to make this work."
Saturday afternoon the USA cheerleading squad finished fourth in the Small Coed Division I finals, coming in behind Hofstra, Sacramento State and Oklahoma.
Also, the Prowlers - USA's dance team - placed fifth in the Division I Jazz Finals. Cal State Fullerton won the division championship, and was followed by Long Beach State, Delaware and Hofstra.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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