Shelton State Cheerleaders Capture 14th National Championship

Shelton State Cheerleaders Capture 14th National Championship

Orlando - The Shelton State cheerleading squad captured its 14th national championship at the 2025 UCA Open Coed Division at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex this weekend. 

"We are so proud of this team," Shelton State Athletics Director Cara Crosslin said. "They have overcome so many obstacles yet continued to work hard and stay positive.  This team believed in themselves day in and day out.  Way to go BUCS!"

Shelton State won 13 consecutive National Championships from 2008-2020. 

The Bucs missed out the last four years, but returned to the top this season under first-year co-head coaches Riley and Bethany Fowler.

From the coaches: 

"This team was a Cinderella story," the Fowler's said. "At the beginning of the year, we almost didn't have enough athletes to compete at nationals. They truly bought in to the process from day one. Our mindset taking the floor was 'no fear, all trust' and they did exactly that. We couldn't be more proud of every single athlete on this team!" 

Terrance Hughes is in his first season as assistant coach. 

The 2024-25 squad consists of sophomores Anthony Boddie (Harvest, Ala.), Garrett Brown (Mayfield, Kent.), Kemarion Cook (Brookwood), Chelsey Edwards (Tuscaloosa), Evan Hutchins (Arley), Elizabeth Ledbetter (Birmingham), Belle Richardson (Clanton), Hunter Rigsby (Conroe, Texas), Caylee Smith (Woodland), Kaiden Stimson (Sedalia, Kent.), Maddox Walker (Waynesboro, Miss.) and Katie Wyatt (Birmingham). 

The freshmen are Ryleigh Alton (Alabaster), Alena Borden (Gardendale), Callie Elliott (Centreville), Armani Estrada-Brown (Tampa, Fla.), Jaiden Graves (Conroe, Texas), Mackenzie Lamm (Navarre, Fla.), JoJo McGee (Wingo, Kent.), Cameron Pollard (Navarre, Fla.) and Jackson Sprayberry (Northport).