Inside HSU Cheer’s Return to the National Stage

For the Hardin-Simmons University Cheer Team, the national championship moment was only a small part of the story.

What most people did not see were the moments in between, from early practices to last-minute adjustments and unexpected challenges that shaped the experience long before the final results were announced.

Head Coach Tiffany McMurray said those moments are what defined the trip.

Competing April 10–12 at The College Classic Nationals, the team’s return to the national stage came after months of preparation and a commitment to making the opportunity possible.

“Competing was something people have talked about for years,” McMurray said. “We just had to find a way to make it happen.”

With larger national competitions financially out of reach, McMurray began researching alternative options and ultimately found The College Classic, hosted by the Dance Team Union. Even then, attending required significant fundraising. Through recruitment clinics, mini camps, merchandise sales, Giving Day initiatives, and support from alumni and donors, the team raised nearly $25,000.

On March 11, they had officially secured enough funds to book the trip.

By that point, the routine they would take to nationals had already been in progress for months. McMurray, a 2021 HSU master’s graduate and former cheerleader, began choreographing the routine in May 2025 and finalized it in December before the team began practicing in January alongside their regular-season commitments.

“This was my first time choreographing a college routine,” she said. “I wanted it to reflect who we are.”

Competing in the All-Girl Game Day division, the team focused on crowd engagement, school spirit, and performance. With 12 athletes, they leaned into their strengths by emphasizing energy, communication, and precision.

Practices were consistent and demanding. The team met multiple times each week and ran the routine repeatedly, building confidence through repetition. By the time they arrived at nationals, they had completed more than 60 full-out performances.

That preparation was tested immediately.

During their first performance, the music did not start.

Instead of stopping, the team continued the routine, relying on counts and each other to stay in sync. From the stands, McMurray called out cues to help guide them through the performance.

“They didn’t hesitate,” she said. “They just kept going.”

After finishing, they were given the opportunity to perform again with music, resulting in two full-out performances within a short period of time. For a team that had already pushed through so many repetitions in practice, the moment felt familiar.

The night before competing, the team gathered for a Bible study led by McMurray, with athletic trainer Brittnee Hatch joining them. The conversation centered on maintaining faith and perspective even in difficult or unexpected situations.

McMurray said she saw that mindset carry into the competition.

“I saw a shift,” she said. “Even when things did not go as planned, they stayed positive.”

After the first day of competition, HSU trailed the leading team by just over half a point. On the second day, the team returned with increased focus and energy, delivering a stronger performance that significantly improved their score.

When final results were announced later that evening, HSU had moved into first place by more than six points, a margin rarely seen in competitive cheer.

“It doesn’t usually happen like that,” McMurray said. “They executed everything exactly how they needed to.”

When their name was called, the moment was emotional.

“I was crying,” she said. “All the work they put in just came together.”

When the team returned to Abilene, they were welcomed at the airport by students, faculty, staff, alumni, family members, and friends. For a group that spends most of the year supporting others from the sidelines, the experience of being celebrated stood out.

“They are usually the ones cheering everyone else on,” McMurray said. “To have that kind of support for them meant a lot.”

That support had been evident even before the trip. A campus showcase ahead of nationals drew a strong crowd, including students, faculty, staff, and other collegiate cheer teams from the Abilene area.

While the national title marks a historic achievement for the program, McMurray said the growth she saw throughout the experience is what she will remember most.

“They worked incredibly hard,” she said. “But more than anything, I saw growth in who they are and in their faith. That is what I will remember most.”

For a program returning to the national stage for the first time in 25 years, the result was significant, but for McMurray, the impact went beyond the performance.

“This trip brought them closer to the Lord,” she said. “That is bigger than anything else.”