HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana University cheerleaders
Kaitlyn Bess,
Sara Watts,
Chloe El-Khansa and Bella Lion were selected to the 2027 US National All-Girl Premier Team, USA Cheer announced Tuesday.
The SLU quartet was selected after a tryout last month in Dallas. The Lion cheerleaders will be part of the all-girl squad featuring student-athletes from Southeastern, Alabama, Delaware, Morehead State, Weber State, South Florida and West Georgia competing in the International Cheer Union (ICU) World Cheerleading Championships April 21-23, 2027 in Orlando. Fla.
Bess, Watts, Lion and El-Khansa's selection is the latest milestone for the SLU program. All four were part of the first All-Girl team to compete for Southeastern, finishing second in Division I and will be key members of the team's efforts at the 2027 event scheduled for Jan. 15-17, 2027 in Orlando.
Southeastern Director of Spirit Hearrt Williams explained the significance of the accomplishment of the Lion cheerleaders.
"In our world, the ICU World Championships are the highest level of competition and essentially our Olympics," Williams commented. "For a competitive cheerleader, making the national team is the ultimate goal."
Under Williams and all girl skills coach Maddie Guidry, the Lion cheerleaders have established the program among the nation's elite. The representation will help to keep the entire SLU cheer program prominent on a national level, according to Williams.
"It's going to put a spotlight on our program as a whole," Williams said. "The recognition is going to bring attention to our program in the best way possible."
One of Southeastern's representatives is no stranger to national-level competition. El-Khansa was previously named to the US National Youth All-Girl and Junior All-Girl teams and is believed to be the first person to compete on all three – Youth, Junior and Premier – teams for the U.S.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.
