Coed Cheer Wins Dual, Places Second in Day 2 Competition Down South

NEW ORLEANS – Venturing to a new area of the country to compete against a different set of NAIA teams, the Missouri Baptist University competitive cheer team trekked to New Orleans for the Battle in the Big Easy this weekend. The Spartans' results kept consistent with their performance last weekend, recording a dual win and a second-place finish to host Xavier University of Louisiana in the multi-team competition.

On Thursday [Day 1], MBU took care of business against Loyola University (La.), winning by a score of 87.10 to 65.43. The Spartans performed a clean routine with zero deductions and posted the second highest score of any team on the day. Originally scheduled to compete a second time on Thursday, the Spartans withdrew from their second performance – a triangular with Mobile (Ala.) and Xavier (La.).

Showing up rested for the multi-team competition on Friday morning, MBU's results weren't quite what they were looking for as their score dipped down to 83.82 with two deductions totaling 0.75 points. Nonetheless, the Spartans still placed second overall out of nine teams, trailing only XULA, who posted an NAIA season-high score of 96.50. On Friday, MoBap defeated Florida Memorial, Langston (Okla.), Loyola, Williams Baptist (Ark.), Simpson (Calif.), Keiser (Fla.), and Our Lady of the Lake (Texas).

The roster for the Battle in the Big Easy consisted of seniors Kayla Martinez, Dalton Mesey, and Sophia Welch, juniors Cylin Akins and Joey Barker, sophomore Vashti Altheide, and freshmen Avery Bartok and Isabella Martinez.

They turn their sights to next week as they close out their three-weekend stretch of competitions. Up next is a trip to Marion, Indiana for the Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcat Invitational on Feb. 9 and 10.

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Players Mentioned

Cylin Akins: 5' 5"; Junior

Vashti Altheide: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Joey Barker: 5' 10"; Junior

Kayla Martinez: 5' 2"; Senior

Sophia Welch: 5' 0"; Senior

Avery Bartok: 5' 4"; Freshman

Isabella Martinez: 5' 3"; Freshman

Dalton Mesey: 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Cylin Akins
: 5' 5"; Junior

Vashti Altheide
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Joey Barker
: 5' 10"; Junior

Kayla Martinez
: 5' 2"; Senior

Sophia Welch
: 5' 0"; Senior

Avery Bartok
: 5' 4"; Freshman

Isabella Martinez
: 5' 3"; Freshman

Dalton Mesey
: 5' 10"; Senior