The Pike Liberal Arts Lady Patriots Cheerleading Squad captured its second ever National Championship in school history this week. 

Pike Lib finished first overall in the Small Varsity Division II Gameday Division, beating out 62 other teams from across the country that competed at Nationals in Orlando, Fla., this week.

“There are not enough words to describe how proud I am of these girls,” PLAS Cheer Coach Katie Scott said. “I feel like they peaked at the perfect time. We started out this summer with a routine and took it to a couple of competitions at the varsity level and then added our eighth grade members for our complete mat team. We changed up some things and I think we were a little uncertain going into the preliminary competition but did really well.” 

Pike Lib finished ranked first overall in the preliminary round, finishing a full four and a half points better than second place, which allowed the Lady Patriots to completely skip the semifinals and move into the championship round. 

Pike Lib also won a regional and state championship to qualify for nationals but a stumble helped motivate them coming into Orlando.

“We competed at a UCA Regional where we got third place and we were a little disappointed with that finish,” Scott recalled. “They picked up and worked harder and this has been a cohesive team that supported each other and had each other’s backs.”

Scott said that the team’s chemistry and support was the difference maker this season.

“When one of them got down, the others picked her up and brushed her off and got them back going,” said Scott. “They told each other how much they believed in each other. The chemistry on this team was amazing, and so was our dependency on prayer and our Lord is truly what brought them to peak at the right time, at just the right moment. They were truly amazing.”

This season was Scott’s last ride with PLAS as she will retire following this season. Going out with a championship was special not just because of that, but because she got to experience it with her daughter, as well.

“I have a senior, the captain of our team, and for she and I to win this together, and get to stand on that stage together and grasp that trophy together with confetti coming down is such a great feeling,” Scott emphasized. “I won a national championship as a cheerleader in 1993 and although we won here in 2021, that was great, but it was just after COVID and the rules were a lot different. We didn’t get an award presentation, I think we were watching the award ceremony from our phones somewhere.

“They all got to stand up there and get the trophy with the confetti and everything and was an amazing experience. It was an amazing experience to share with my daughter and all of her teammates. I’ve coached some of those kids since they were four years old.” 

The 2025 National Champion Pike Lib cheer squad featured team captain Sydney Scott, co-captain Allyn Wilson, Nikki Hopper, Kenzie Beth Ray, Caroline Renfroe, Kinsley Simmons, Lexie Terry, Heidi Reagan, Allie Booth, Sarah Sanders, Mary Tyler Webb, Meg Gardner, Ansleigh Kilcrease, Reagan Sanders and Lucy Webb. Brittany Royal and Tara Morelock coached alongside Scott.