NORFOLK, Va. – The Bethune-Cookman University cheerleading squad picked up a runner-up finish at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Cheerleading Championships on Sunday, placing in the event for the first time in school history. The event took place inside Echols Hall on the campus of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va.

Under the direction of first-year coaches Rebekah and John Woodson, Bethune-Cookman was competing in the coed division of the MEAC Cheerleading Championships for the first time under the new staff. The Wildcats did not compete in the event last year.

Meanwhile, the Bethune-Cookman mascot, Dr. Wyle D. Catt, participated in the Mascot Cheerleading Championships. Wyle D. Catt advanced to the finals against the Savannah State Tiger and the South Carolina State Bulldog. In the end, the South Carolina State Bulldog captured his first title.

In the cheerleading portion of the championships, Rebekah and John Woodson inserted Tre'Donavious Bush, a freshman tumbler from Atlanta, into the all-star position before performing their routine. The routine was just shy of the expected level for the Woodson's, and a two-hour cool down period between warm-ups and competition seemed to slow the Cats down heading into the actual floor event.

“Going into the competition, the team knew they had to hit to win,” said Rebekah Woodson. “The other teams all had drops, and all we had to do was hit clean. They made mistakes that they – nor the coaching staff – thought they could have made, and ultimately it cost us the title. It wasn't that anybody was not giving it their all because some of them came off crying and throwing up because they left all they had on the floor.”

Bethune-Cookman was able to capture the runner-up trophy, just behind coed division winner South Carolina State. Morgan State won both the all-female and overall championship trophy, defending their title from a year ago. Florida A&M took second overall, while South Carolina State was third.

With a new philosophy and an altered formula from seasons past, Rebekah and John Woodson have instituted a feeling of structure and a winning attitude into the Wildcats cheerleading program. Senior captain Lenisha Smith, a base from Detroit, has been one of the driving forces behind the change, and served as a key contributor for the Wildcats at the CCA Regionals in Jacksonville, Fla.

“Although the coaches and the team are disappointed with our placing, we have to look beyond that,” continued Woodson. “We explained to them that it's not about the size of a trophy. It's about the journey you travel to make yourself a better person. Learning to overcome challenges; honor your commitments when others choose not to; and showing respect and skills that stay with you for life. Tucks and toe-touches are not. These student-athletes did that.”

The journey from the start of the season to the end was a difficult one for the coaches and staff, but it occurred in the way they all would have wanted. A squad size of 34 at the beginning the year was eventually downgraded to a spirited team of 16. Those 16 competitors that gave all they had at the MEAC Championships in representing the Maroon and Gold.

“The team we have is destined for greatness,” stated Woodson. “They weathered the storm, and that's what a true champion does. We are blessed that we have such a supportive team behind us. Lynn Thompson prayed with us before the competition, and he's the only athletic director to do that. It's what makes him so special.

“We hope next year that we will build an even stronger program to come back and take the title. Second place for our first year coaching and developing this program is not bad. We know that God has a plan, and we give Him the glory for the strength He had provided in each and every one of our student-athletes.”

For more information on the Bethune-Cookman Cheerleading squad, please visit the official cheerleading site on B-CUathletics.com, or click here.

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