Daytona Beach, Fla. — The Aquinas cheer team placed second at the NCA College Nationals in the Intermediate Small Coed NAIA Division. The NCA College Nationals is one of the most highly anticipated and competitive cheerleading competitions in the country. It attracts top collegiate cheer teams from all over the country and is held annually in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Saints scored 85.132 points overall for the event with 75% of their score being taken from the 85.5926 points they earned in Friday's Finals performance on Apr. 7. AQ posted a preliminary score of 83.75 points on Thursday (Apr. 6), which accounted for the other 25%.

Roosevelt won the three-team division with 93.9745 points, while St. Thomas took third place with 82.912 points.

AQ head coach Amy Jacobson expressed pride in the team's dedication and attention to the details.

"We are so incredibly proud of the team and have had such an amazing experience," Jacobson said. "We made changes last night that helped clean up our routine and reduce our deductions."

The Saints reduced their deductions from 3.25 points on Thursday to 2.00 points on Friday.

Aquinas received the following scores (out of 10 points) in its Finals performance: Stunts (8.40), pyramids (7.00), tosses (7.00), standing tumbling (9.20), running tumbling (8.70), jumps (9.60), collegiate image (10.0), choreography (9.60) and overall effect (9.33).

The standout runner-up finish marks the end of the AQ cheer season. The Saints will look to build upon the experience to improve and achieve more next year.