Vikes cheer team wins silver medal at university world championship

January 22, 2026

Victoria – The University of Victoria cheerleading team returned to the podium with a silver medal finish at the 2026 ICU University World Cup Cheerleading Championships, held February 16–18 in Orlando, Florida.

Competing in the Premier Small Co-Ed division, the Vikes were edged out by less than a point by Iowa Western Community College. Despite the narrow margin, the result marked a milestone performance for the program.

Under head coaches Kate Bell and Michan Hedge, now in their 12th season at the helm, the Vikes “hit zero” by delivering a zero-deduction routine, earning the second highest score in their division. The performance also produced the highest-scoring “traditional routine” among Canadian schools and took the top overall “cheer” score in their division, subsequently surpassing several large American programs.

“Our goal was to hit zero [zero deductions], and we achieved our goal, which was really exciting,” said Bell. “Despite the outcome, we told the team that their happiest moment should be at the end of the routine after leaving it all on the floor, and it truly was. You can’t control the competition or the judges; we knew we did the best we possibly could.”

Bell added that earning the top “cheer” score carried special significance for the program.

“Focusing on the cheer aspect of our routine is something we’ve always emphasized and hope it becomes part of our program's legacy.”

The ICU University World Cup is staged at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, one of the largest and most intimidating venues in competitive cheer. Teams receive just two opportunities on the floor: a Saturday exhibition run to acclimate and address any deductions or safety warnings, followed by a single, scored routine on Sunday. Executing a zero-deduction routine under that pressure underscores the level of precision the Vikes were firing on.

For a program that captured the world championship title in 2023 and has consistently placed among the top teams since, the result reflects a continued commitment to preparation.

“We worked extremely hard leading up to worlds, basically practicing every day for two weeks straight,” said Bell. “We focused heavily on mental performance—staying level-headed, staying in control of our emotions, and trusting our preparation. We did a lot of full-outs and hit zero at practice, probably 20 times, to build confidence. We also acknowledged what could go wrong and prepared for that.”

The silver medal marks a return to the podium after a fourth-place finish last season, which followed a rebuilding year that saw the graduation of several veteran athletes and the addition of 18 rookies. With that group returning and another world-level performance under their belt, the Vikes reaffirmed their standing as one of the top programs in the division.

Next, the Vikes turn their attention to the BC Provincial Championship, set for February 28–March 1, 2026, at TRADEX in Abbotsford.

The UVic Vikes Cheer Team is a Premier Level 7 small co-ed competitive program representing the University of Victoria. As a student-run club that is almost entirely self-funded, the team trains year-round and competes in four to five major events each season, combining high-performance sport with school spirit and community engagement.

Vikes Giving Day is coming up on Feb. 4, to learn how to support Vikes Cheer, visit their Giving Day page.

About Vikes Cheer

The Vikes cheer team is part of the university competitive clubs program open to all eligible UVic students. Each year, upwards of 100 student-athletes try out for the team, and while the team's primary goal is competition, there is no cheer history or previous experience required. While the program welcomes anyone interested in competitive cheer to try out for the team, the dedicated group of athletes practice early mornings and late nights three days a week for 2.5 hours and attend varsity home games as well. They also fundraise year-round to help pay their way to larger competitions like the University World Cup Cheerleading Championship in Orlando.