Cheer Finishes Second At Heart Championship, Puts Nine on Heart All-Conference Team
Olathe, Kan., (March 8, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College cheer team competed at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship in Olathe, Kan., Saturday. The Vikings finished second overall, and put nine on the Heart All-Conference team, including the Heart Cheerleader of the Year.
The Vikings earned a total score of 84.36 in the Heart championship, and finished second overall. Grand View (Iowa) won the championship with a total score of 85.93. Missouri Valley entered the competition as the eight-time defending conference champions.
Missouri Valley currently sits with an average score of 87.22 on the season, which is tenth overall in the NAIA.
In addition to the second place finish, a total of nine cheer team members were recognized on the Heart All-Conference Team. Leading the selections is Sophomore Carter McCourt (Bristol, Ind.), who was named the Heart Cheerleader of the Year. McCourt is the second cheerleader in program history to win the award, joining Rylee Mills (2023, 2024).
Joining McCourt on the all-conference first team are Sophomore Alayna Allen (Warrensburg, Mo.), Senior Raul Valencia Espertal (Madrid, Spain), Sophomore Aidan Oldham (Kansas City, Mo.), Freshman Hailey Stephenson (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Sophomore Crysta Newton (South Rockwood, Mich.). Missouri Valley had six of the eight selections to the all-conference first team. Named to the second team were Sophomore India Trimble (Falmouth, Ky.), Junior Karlshon Fleming (Bridgepport, Ct.) and Sophomore Jaedyn Butler (Kanakee, Ill.).
Missouri Valley will now wait on a possible at-large berth into the NAIA Competitive Cheer National Championship. The 15-team championship field will be announced March 17.
Heart Cheer Championship Standings
1. Grand View (Iowa)-85.93
2. Missouri Valley-84.36
3. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)-82.66
4. William Penn (Iowa)-76.23
5. Baker (Kan.)-73.50
6. Mount Mercy (Iowa)-71.31
7. Benedictine (Kan.)-65.83
8. Peru State (Neb.)-61.50
9. Culver-Stockton (Mo.)-58.96
10. Graceland (Iowa)-40.20
Cheer Results-Click Here
About Missouri Valley College
Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.