Castle Cheerleading in Newburgh, IN, Makes School History On National Stage

Castle Cheerleading Takes Major Accomplishment

It's not every day a high school cheerleading squad makes it as far into nationals as the Castle High School cheer squad did over the weekend. For over 40 years, high school cheer squads across the country have turned to the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship to determine the best of the best. Being the only championship endorsed by the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS), this competition has high standards and reflects the values that every parent wants to see their child athlete participating in.

So what exactly is the "nationals" competition?

The National High School Cheerleading Championship started in 1983 and is an invite-only competition. Not only do the teams have to earn a bid to progress in the beginning stages of the contest, but they must then compete in multiple rounds to even qualify for the finals.

Castle Cheerleading is only in its second year of competing at this level on a national stage this large. The squad earned its first bid in 2025 and made an excellent rookie run, falling just short of the finals. With the motivation from that season riding hard on their shoulders, the team went into the 2026 season ready to win, and win they did! The Castle Knights defeated multiple other teams to advance past the semi-finals, finishing 5th overall in the finals competition. That means one of our local teams is 5th in the entire nation!

I may be a biased alumnus, but I'm pretty darn proud to say I graduated from a school that continues to accomplish cool stuff like this. Way to go, team!

Here's what the Castle Cheer Coaches had to say:

"This year, the team accomplished that goal and more. They advanced to finals for the first time in program history and ultimately finished fifth in the nation in the Small Varsity Coed Game Day division. This achievement is especially meaningful considering the adversity they faced and how young our program is. As coaches, we firmly believe that this success was driven by more than just talent and preparation. It was driven by the bond these athletes share. Our team motto is “BAFA — Be A Family, Always,” and this group truly embodies that. They supported each other through injuries, challenges, and pressure, and never let adversity define their outcome. They showed resilience, selflessness, and a commitment to something bigger than themselves. This team didn’t just make finals — they made history. And more importantly, they laid the foundation for what Castle Cheerleading will continue to become."

Get our free mobile app