Story By Mary Bailey
Two of our local high school cheer teams are coming back home with “white jackets.” A symbol in the cheerleading world of victory, excellence and being the national champions.
This past weekend cheerleading teams from all across the nation came to compete at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC) 2026 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.
Bringing home national titles in their division were:
Albertville High School: DII Large Varsity Game Day
Coaches: Jeremy Shaw, Tanika Colvin, Mary Grace Hand
Boaz High School: Varsity Coed Non-Tumbling Division II
Coaches: Leah Milam, Tiffany Rhoden
For the Albertville Aggies, this was the first national championship Albertville High School has ever won.
According to Tanika Colvin, one of three coaches for the Aggies, the program hasn’t made it to finals since 2011 when placing 16th.
“The first team to win a regional championship was the 1996-1997 team and the first team to ever be placed in finals at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship was the 2000 team under the direction of Monica Dooley.”
Colvin said that hard work doesn’t even begin to describe what the girls have experienced.
“I would call it a culture shock. From day 1 the girls and their parents bought into everything we had to say to them. The good, the bad, and the ugly parts of cheerleading. They didn’t understand the important roles they play not only in the school but the community. They didn’t understand many of the very basic skills of cheerleading; how to use a sign, work a megaphone, proper placement of motions, etc.,” Colvin said. “So, when we took over to say we had our work cut out for us was an understatement, but with God all things are possible, and He made a way. We all worked diligently (early mornings, weekends, and two a day until Christmas) together from April of 2025 until now to prepare for this moment.”
Colvin said “Day 1” wasn’t our best performance, we found ourselves in third place in our panel with some changes that needed to be made from comments from the judges.
“Although I think this maybe the best thing that could have happened to the team. This routine had been successful all year long, and they had to learn quickly how to compete at that level to achieve a goal. They never faltered and yet again met a standard that the coaches set for them.
“Day 2” was a good performance, but we still had a couple small things that could be better and comments that could improve from the judges. So yet again we went to work to adjust small things for the final performance,” Colvin continued. “Day 3” was a harder warm up. A few things didn’t go flawlessly, and the girls seemed a little out of sorts but after some good coaching points and even some reality checks, they settled their nerves and went to work to deliver a stellar routine that was awarded with a national championship.”
Colvin said the community and support of the school system has been amazing for their entire journey.
“From the moment we had taken the jobs we have been showered with kindness and support. To be able to bring back a win to this community is a privilege and an honor. The momentum all of our programs at Albertville High School have going is a testament to the incredible administration we have at Albertville City Schools. To be able to continue to raise that standard is something we don’t take lightly and are very excited to continue into the future,” she said.
Next on the plate for the Albertville Aggie Cheer Team?
“We will prepare for some basketball performances that we will have coming up into the post season,” Colvin continued. “Both teams are doing incredible this season and we look forward to continuing to cheer them on into the state tournaments. After that we will take a small break from cheerleading but continue to work out and get stronger for the 2026-2027 season. When we return, the grind for a 2027 national championship will begin.”
This was also the first year with new coaches for the Albertville Aggie Cheer Teams.
Jeromy Shaw: Head Competition Coach/ Choreographer is the backbone of everything the Aggies do. Prior to Albertville he was the head cheerleading coach at Tuscaloosa County High School where he had a stellar stent.
Colvin: Spirit Coordinator/ Assistant Competition Coach was the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at Columbus State University.
Mary Grace Hand: Head JV Coach/ Assistant Competition Coach and is a recent graduate of the University of Alabama and Southside Cheerleading Alumni.
The Boaz Pirate Cheerleaders won the Varsity Coed Non-Tumbling Division and also proudly brought home white jackets.
The team is coached by Leah Milam and Tiffany Roden.
“We still have not really had the time to process the fact that our kids are National Champions, they did it,” Rhoden said. “I’m not sure that any words that we can put together right now will truly capture the determination, composure, emotion or beauty of what our team just accomplished!”
Roden said they are so proud of their team because they took a gamble early on.
“At the beginning of this year we decided to compete for the first time in a Coed division. We collaborated with VROC choreographer Christopher Hayes-Treherne and he gave us an awesome routine. We are so thankful for Chris,” Rhoden continued.
“Our athletes have worked so hard and grown in so many ways. Leah Milam and I have been so blessed to be able to be their coaches. Our athletes are awesome, and it was so amazing to see their hard work pay off in such a special way.”
This is Boaz High School’s first National Championship since 2002.
“So, this one has been a long time coming. We have had so many times over the last 24 years where we were so close. It was so much fun to hear our name called and for Boaz High School to finally be back on top,” Rhoden said. “We could not be more proud of our team. We are a relatively young team overall which is exciting for the future. We have two seniors who were brand new to our program this year, Grady Quisenberry and KalliRay Collins. They both did an outstanding job for us. After finishing as the runner up last year in the Large Varsity Non-Tumbling division, our kids were determined they were going to come out on top. They put in the work, they delivered an outstanding performance, and they are National Champions!”
