UAFS Cheer Makes History with Bold Leap into Advanced Competition
A decade after earning their first NCA College Cheerleading National Championship in 2015, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith’s Co-Ed Cheer program made history again. At this year’s nationals in Daytona, Florida, the Lions secured second place in a brand-new division – Advanced Small Co-Ed D2.
When head coach – and Greenwood native – Branden Gregory proposed moving up a division to the squad last summer, he knew it was time for them to grow. It was a theme that had guided him since stepping into the role in 2022.
“I had three major priorities when I took over,” Branden says of his succession from former Head Coach Stacie Kohles. “The first was to maintain the winning culture we had built in previous years. The second was recruiting from out of state. I want UAFS to be an option for cheerleaders all over the country. The third priority was elevating our program to the Advanced division—a move made possible by deepening our talent pool and raising the bar for competition.”
The Intermediate division had been the Lions’ comfort zone – where they dominated for nearly a decade, winning four additional national titles since 2015. That stretch included back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018, with Branden serving as assistant coach.
“I learned that anything is possible as long as you have a plan and stay focused on what your team does best,” Branden says, reflecting on the back-to-back titles under Kohles. “In competitive cheer, a lot of coaches focus on what their competition is doing and lose sight of what their athletes are good at.”
The squad had captured five national titles in the Intermediate division, but Branden knew lasting growth—and long-term success—would only come by stepping outside that comfort zone.
“I hinted at moving up to the Advanced division the season before,” Branden says. “But last summer, during our first workweek, I laid it out—we were ready to grow as a program. I knew the talent was there, but they had to want it, too.”
With the squad on board, Branden knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. They were stepping into a division filled with seasoned teams—some with more than a decade of experience at that level.
“Switching to the new division, there was a whole new skill set we had to work on, so the fall semester was pretty tough on them, preparing the new skills,” Branden says. “At times, I could tell they were waiting for me to switch them back to Intermediate. Getting out of your comfort zone is tough, but I asked the team to trust me and keep pushing.”
For senior Alexis Davis, a Sallisaw, Oklahoma native, the late nights and early mornings of intense training were worth it—because the team shared a vision in making history together.
“We pushed ourselves to be better every day,” Alexis says. “We held each other accountable, encouraged one another, and stayed focused on what we wanted to accomplish together.”
By the time “Hell Week” arrived over Spring Break, the team was clocking six-hour days perfecting their routine.
“Once we got to ‘Hell Week,’ they looked like an advanced collegiate cheer team,” Branden says. “They just didn’t know it yet.”
When Nationals arrived, Branden admits seeing the division listing was “a little scary” —many of the teams they’d be going up against had been in the division for over a decade. But the Lions were ready. Branden’s message to the team was simple: just keep doing what you’ve been doing in practice.
“Coming into day one [of Nationals], I told the team we just need to hit a solid routine and let the judges decide from there,” Branden says. “And they did just that and put on one of the better performances in the division.”
Waiting on the standings was nerve-wracking, but seeing how close they were to first place was, as Branden puts it, “one of the best feelings.”
“The team was really excited, and when I saw them at the hotel, the energy was incredible,” Branden recalls. “Seeing the rankings was a turning point—it’s when they realized that everything we’d worked toward for the past eleven months was paying off. That momentum carried into our final prep for day two. The team had a renewed sense of focus and determination—they stepped onto the mat and gave it everything they had. That performance landed us in the winner’s circle, reserved for the top three teams. When our name was called for second place, it marked the beginning of a new era for UAFS Cheer.”
For senior Alexis Gibson, a Van Buren, Arkansas native, the second-place finish marked a deeply personal milestone after four years with the team. “To step into a new level and still come out near the top proves just how hard we worked and how much potential this team has,” she says. “It was the perfect ending to a chapter I’ve poured my heart into, and I’m so proud to be part of this legacy.” She adds, “What I’ll miss the most is the bond we’ve built as a team—the laughter, the bus rides, and the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself.”
With a firm foothold in the Advanced division, the Lions return from Daytona ready to begin a new chapter—one where graduating seniors like Gibson and Davis pass the torch to the next squad of athletes.
“Ending my college career by finishing second at nationals in a brand-new competition level feels incredible [and] I am so proud of this team,” Davis says. “We went out there and proved to everyone that we are ready to take on new challenges, and not just face them, but succeed. It’s an amazing feeling to know we made history for the program and left something for future teams to build on.”
Back on campus with renewed confidence, the Lions look ahead to welcoming new team members. And Branden remains focused on his mission: growing a program that builds on its winning culture.
“The biggest thing that’s kept us moving forward is focusing on growth from day one with each team,” Branden says. “That growth must happen both in their skills and in who they are as individuals. When athletes come in from high school, they’re coming from different programs, structures, and expectations—so from the start, we work to help them adjust to our system, our mindset, and ultimately, what it means to be a collegiate athlete.”
Though her time with the Lions has ended, two-time national champion Davis is excited for the program’s continued growth.
“I truly believe UAFS Cheer will become one of the programs everyone wants to be a part of,” Davis says. “The foundation has been set, and I’m so excited to watch it succeed and bring home even more national titles in the future. I’ll always be cheering them on.”
Follow UAFS Cheer on social media @UAFSCHEER and learn more at UAFORTSMITHLIONS.COM.
