MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The North Carolina A&T cheerleading team looks poised to three-peat after an excellent weekend in South Carolina. The Aggies cheer and mascot program attended the 2025 National Cheerleading Association (NCA) College Camp. This three-day cheer event includes cheer, stunt, and dance training designed to prepare teams for the upcoming season and 2026 NCA Nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla., in April.
On the final day, the Aggies received the Gold bid after competing in and outside of their divisions for bids to nationals. The bid comes with a maximum discount, priority hotel placement, preferred performance order, and early access to arrival day practice sign-ups.
"I'm incredibly proud of our student-athletes for working hard and maintaining a standard of excellence," said cheer head coach Kendall Cook. "Their focus, resilience, and dedication are what make achievements like this possible. I'm also deeply grateful to our administration for their unwavering support and belief in us—not just as athletes, but as ambassadors for North Carolina A&T."
During the NCA College Camp, A&T also earned two awards in the Open Coed Intermediate Division, placing first in rally routine and second in game day/crowd segment. In addition, the Aggie Dog mascot received the award for Most Collegiate Mascot and earned a bid to nationals. Aggietha won for Excellent Field Walk/Home Skit Feedback.
Eight A&T cheerleaders earned All-American status, including Aliyah Drew, Aydra Hooper, Ava Wilson, Brianna McCullough, Kyndal Williams, Ni'Yarah Horton-Washington, Rokell Johnson, and Santana Baker.
"The hard work and efforts of the athletes, coach, and supporting staff were shown in and out by the awards and results at camp, and prove that their dedication to cheer as well as themselves will pay off as they strive to remain at championship status for the upcoming season," said Cook.
A&T made history in the spring of 2025 as a repeat winner in the NCA and National Dance Alliance (NDA) College National Championship. With a final event score of 95.0093 and no deductions, A&T took first place in the Intermediate Small Coed Division I group.
In 2024, the Aggie cheerleaders became the first HBCU team to win this division title and the first HBCU team in North Carolina to win an NCA National Championship. In April, A&T was the only HBCU to win a division title in what is considered the premier collegiate cheerleading and dance championship in the United States.
In their first competition appearance in 2023, the Aggies received second-place honors – missing first place from among 21 teams by less than one point. They were also the first squad in at least 20 years to represent an HBCU from North Carolina in that year's event.
