FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Averett University's cheer and dance teams both came away as big winners during the 2022 Christian Cheerleaders of America's Cheer Nationals and Collegiate Championship held Saturday at the Crown Center Complex.

Averett cheer, competing in the CCA Collegiate All Girl Cheer Division, won the CCA national championship for their division and the overall grand champion for all-girl cheer teams. Averett dance, competing in the CCA Collegiate Hip Hop Dance Division, won the CCA national championship for its division.

"This moment is so humbling, so surreal and so well deserved," said Shania Thorpe, Averett cheer and dance head coach. "Both teams have fought through so much to make it here. Not only did they prove it to themselves, they left with the recognition they deserve. Proud is an understatement on how I am feeling."

For Averett cheer, it is the program's third CCA national championship.

"The second we stepped off the mat, we were winners," cheer freshman Jamie Lynskey said. "Competing with such a wonderful group of ladies and watching our coaches' vision come alive and hitting it was the first win. So when we all heard we were the champions, it just made that feeling intensify. We did it, we made it and our hard work paid off."

For Averett's dance program, this was its first CCA national championship in its first trip to CCA.

"Winning nationals at our first ever competition felt like a dream," dance senior Kiana Williams said. "We have worked so hard to get to this moment and it was a 100 percent worth it in the end. As a senior I look forward to seeing what the underclassmen have in store for next year."