BLINN CHEER AND DANCE TEAM RECEIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The Blinn College cheer and dance programs celebrated their 2025 success Saturday, and found some motivation for 2026 in the process.

The Blinn cheerleaders and dancers received their National Cheer Association (NCA) and National Dance Alliance (NDA) championship rings as part of a special celebration ceremony at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

During the NCA & NDA College Nationals last April in Daytona Beach, Fla., Blinn’s dance team captured its third consecutive Pom Junior College Division title and added the Dance Spirit Rally Open championship to its growing collection of trophies. It was the second consecutive season in which Blinn dance won two championships at the College Nationals.

Additionally, Blinn’s cheer team earned the Advanced All Girl Junior College title, the team’s first championship since 2019.

Blinn dance is now the owner of 13 NDA championships, while cheer has earned eight NCA titles.

“Ring day is as much about celebrating our athletes for what they have accomplished as it is showing our younger cheerleaders and dancers what they have to strive for,” said Blinn head cheer and dance coach Sarah Barland, who is in her 17th year at Blinn. “We never want to take this day for granted because we know the hard work and effort that goes into getting here, and I think all of our athletes have a deep appreciation for that.”

Barland is assisted by Amanda Logback, who leads the cheer squad.

With the 2026 NCA & NDA College Nationals right around the corner (April 8-11), the Buccaneers receiving their championship hardware Saturday saw the moment as motivation to do it all over again in less than three month’s time.

“We want to go back to Daytona and win a couple more and be right back here for our rings next year,” sophomore dancer Olivia Singleton said. “I think this just drives us to keep pushing, and hopefully our freshmen see us out here getting these rings and want to be in our shoes a year from now.”

Buccaneer alumnus and former cheerleader Savannah Green traveled back to Brenham for Saturday’s festivities — as did many of her former teammates — and said the celebration was a reminder of the family atmosphere Barland has built at Blinn.

“When you’re here for this moment, you are reminded of the special friendships and bonds you created that helped you win it all in the first place,” Green said. “It really is a family here, and that’s why you see so many of us here to celebrate our accomplishments.”