For a program with only five athletes on the mat, the Union High School competitive cheerleading team made one of the loudest statements of the weekend.
The Spartans captured first place in the Small Varsity category at the OCS (Open Championship Series) Nationals competition in Myrtle Beach, S.C., earning national recognition and continuing to elevate a growing program that head coach Hannah Horne believes is only beginning to scratch the surface.
For Horne, the championship represented more than just a trophy — it was validation for a small public-school program that embraced the role of underdog all season long.
“I kind of hate to use the phrase underdog, but that’s generally the feeling we had the whole season,” Horne said in an interview, adding, “not even just at nationals, but at smaller events too. Walking in with only five girls can be intimidating when you see bigger teams, but they held their own, kept their heads up high and kept their confidence even higher.”
Despite the size difference compared to many programs they faced, Horne said her athletes never allowed themselves to feel overwhelmed.
“They have fun and they enjoy what they do,” Horne added. “They don’t let little things, like having a small group, intimidate them. Honestly, everybody we came into contact with at the competition was supportive and really nice, so that helped us too.”
Horne said one of the team’s greatest strengths throughout the season has been its energy and spirit, qualities that helped separate the Spartans on the national stage.
“We’ve been told we can be pretty loud for a small group,” Horne said with a laugh. “My girls are always smiling and always happy. Their positivity has always made me proud to be their coach.”
That chemistry and enthusiasm translated directly into their performance on the mat at nationals.
“There were a lot of emotions that day,” Horne said. “The girls worked hard and kept it together. Nobody was left out. It was amazing to watch them work together as a true team and not just something they had to do. This was something they wanted to do.”
Horne admitted the routine itself was nerve-racking from the coaching perspective, particularly during several critical stunt sequences that could have determined the outcome of the competition.
“My heart probably dropped five times on that floor,” Horne said. “I was praying they wouldn’t drop the stunt because that was the difference between us and the other team. Keeping all our stunts clean and making sure our tumble passes were perfect was huge.”
In the end, the performance unfolded exactly as the coach envisioned.
“The routine I choreographed couldn’t have gone any better in my head than the way they performed it that night,” she said.
The championship is also already having an impact on the future of the program. Horne said Union has completed tryouts for next season and interest in competitive cheer is continuing to grow throughout the school.
According to the cheer coach, next year’s team is expected to feature a mixture of freshmen, juniors and seniors, giving the program more depth moving forward.
“Some of the freshmen girls got to watch them perform, and they were really excited,” Horne said. “They want to compete next year too. Here at Union, they want to continue with competing along with game day cheer.”
Competitive cheer is still relatively uncommon among public schools in the surrounding area, but Horne believes the sport gives student-athletes opportunities that extend far beyond Sampson County.
“We have the time and willingness to do something kind of out of the ordinary and give these girls an extra chance to be seen outside of North Carolina or outside of just the county they’re in,” Horne said. “There are college reps and cheer clubs that come around, so the opportunities expand when they travel and compete.”
Horne said exposure is one of the primary reasons she continues investing in the program.
“They all have dreams to go pro or compete at the college level,” Horne said. “I try my best to throw them out there and give them opportunities.”
The coach also noted that Union’s success proves athletes can accomplish major goals through public-school programs despite the financial barriers often associated with competitive cheerleading.
“A lot of people think you have to do private all-star cheer to accomplish things,” Horne said. “This shows public schools can do big things too.”
With the Spartans set to move into a larger division next season with nine athletes expected on the roster, Horne hopes the team continues carrying the same identity that helped fuel its national championship run.
“Hopefully they stay true to who they are and keep going,” Horne said. “This meant so much to these girls, and I think the community is still in shock seeing girls from a small school in North Carolina go across state lines and win a national championship.”