High school cheer team wins 2026 international title after months of training and fundraising

A small-town high school cheerleading team has captured an international title, topping about 40 teams from around the world at the 2026 International Cheer Competition in Orlando, Florida.

Liberty Center High School’s victory follows months of intense preparation, long practices and fundraising efforts to make the trip from Ohio possible.

“It’s just such a blessing to be able to have performed with our best friends by our side,” said senior Quinn Bailey. “We put in a lot of work, so winning was just such an incredible experience. It was life-changing.”

Team members said community support played a key role in helping them compete on the international stage.

“We had to raise a bunch of money to get here, and our community really provided for us,” said senior Marleigh Myers.

Coach Liz Spangler said the win reflects nearly a year of dedication and perseverance.

“We’ve been working on this routine for 10 months,” Spangler said. “It’s been a lot of work. They’ve stuck with it. It takes a lot of grit.”

Athletes said they entered the competition confident in their performance but unsure how they would stack up against teams from around the world.

“We went into it knowing we would do good, but we weren’t sure how the other competition would be,” said sophomore Arianah Brown. “But we did really good.”

For some team members, the victory adds to an already notable run. Several athletes were also part of the school’s 2024 state championship team, giving them both state and international titles.

While the season ends with a world championship, team members said the relationships built and lessons learned will carry forward, setting the foundation for continued success on and off the mat.