Pride cheer gets 2025 season started at Viking Challenge Duals

DES MOINES, Iowa - After dipping their toes in the competition waters last season, the Clarke University cheerleading team got their 2025 campaign underway with a trip to Des Moines, Iowa to compete in the Viking Challenge Duals hosted by Grand View University on Sunday afternoon.

The Pride sent their 10-person team of Isabella Stratton, Klair Simmons, Grayson Eggers, Alexis Riechers, Samantha Callahan, Jenaimary De Jesus, Lilly Welu, Halle Foecking, Madison Fox, and Alyssa Russell to the duals for a pair of tri-matchups, first against William Woods University and Ottawa University at noon then the late afternoon slot against Morningside University and Simpson University.

CU would end up finishing in second place for each matchup, earning a team score of 53.20 for their first performance then scoring nearly similar in the second performance with a 52.85 to earn an overall placement for the nine-team event of seventh place with their combined score of 106.05.

Clarke cheer will continue their competition season this Saturday, Feb. 1 when they travel to St. Louis, Mo. for the Missouri Baptist University hosted Spartan Showcase as the Pride are currently scheduled to step on the floor at 1:40 p.m. CT.