March 10, 2007

RALEIGH, N.C. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) took home runner up honors at the 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Cheerleading Championship on Saturday, March 10. The Lady Hawks took second in the Co-Ed division, marking the second consecutive year that UMES took home the honor.

"This has been an extremely rewarding experience for the team as a whole and a strong foundation has been set that for next year," said Head Coach Eboni Reavis. "We look forward to doing exciting things at games next year that will get the crowd involved and really help the Hawks catch the "Hawk Pride" that is already floating in the air."

The co-ed division was won by Norfolk State while North Carolina A&T (NCAT)took first in the All-Girls Division. NCAT also took home overall honors, followed by Delaware State and Florida A&M.

Below is the official release, which appears courtesy of www.meacsports.com:

North Carolina A&T State University captured first place during the 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Cheerleading Championship, as a part of Super Saturday of the 2007 MEAC Basketball Tournament at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC. Russ Parr of the Russ Parr Morning Show served as the Master of Ceremonies for the second straight year.

The Lady Aggies took home top honors in both the overall competition as well as the all-female division snapping an eight consecutive year run by the Morgan State Lady Bears. Saturday's championship wins were the Aggies fourth in three years. Two years ago, they won the co-ed competition, which includes teams with more than three males.

Individually North Carolina A&T won two of the three the All-Star finishes. Seniors Adryan Williams and Kellie Fletcher finished first and third, respectively. Morgan State's Kolet Bailey earned the second place finish in the All-Star competition.

"It was about redemption, explained Co-Head Cheerleading Coach Adjoa Botwe-Rankin. Our girls put in a lot of work after a lot of obstacles that came our way in the last few weeks. We pulled together our routines in three-four weeks when it normally takes months. After what happened last year (North Carolina A&T was disqualified for exceeding the number of squad participants), We feel redeemed."

Delaware State finished as runners-up in both the overall performance as well as the all-girls division. Florida A&M finished behind the Lady Hornets in the third place spot both the divisions.

Norfolk State won the co-ed division, while Maryland Eastern Shore and South Carolina State finished followed in second and third.

2007 MEAC Cheerleading Championship Complete Results:

All-Stars
1st Place: Adryon Williams, North Carolina A&T
2nd Place: Kolet Bailey, Morgan State
3rd Place: Kellie Fletcher, North Carolina A&T

All-Girls Division
1st Place: North Carolina A&T
2nd Place: Delaware State
3rd Place: Florida A&M

Co-Ed Division
1st Place: Norfolk State
2nd Place: Maryland Eastern Shore
3rd Place: South Carolina State

Overall
1st Place: North Carolina A&T
2nd Place: Delaware State
3rd Place: Florida A&M