Varsity cheer has made New Hyde Park history, competing at Nationals from January 30 to February 1, 2026. Traveling to Orlando, Florida, the team competed in the 2026 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship DII, where NHP won 11th in the nation.
Nationals began with prelims on December 30. NHP cheer performed both their traditional and game-day routines for the judges. Its impressive flips, lifts and jumps demonstrated the required skills it takes to cheer. The routines reflected a season filled with school records and major achievements, proving that diligence, hard work and teamwork are the foundations to a successful cheer team. Overall, at this preliminary match, they received an event score of 71.
Following prelims, NHP cheer’s traditional routine made semifinals—an impressive feat in itself. The routine is long and strenuous, requiring strong and studious memorization. The team’s meticulous attention to detail allowed them to score highly, receiving no deductions and a score of 78.7778. The excellence of their prelims performance allowed them to advance to finals.
“Our traditional routine that just advanced into semifinals at nationals, is a very fast-paced and challenging routine. What I like most about our routine is how focused it is on staying sharp with our motions and making sure every stunt is executed cleanly and confidently. The routine requires a lot of skill, especially strong memorization, because you have to remember specific spots, counts, and all the small details that make everything hit correctly,” junior and varsity cheerleader Sarah Cano said. “We’ve worked extremely hard all season to get to this point, and we’re incredibly grateful for our coaches and very proud of how much we’ve grown and accomplished as a team.”
Finals, on February 1, was an intense competition where top cheer teams of the nation gathered to fight for the national title. NHP cheer took the mat and executed a historic routine, attaining an event score of 74.2222. Cheer finished 11th overall out of 39 among America’s most accomplished varsity cheer teams.
“I am most proud of the family that we created in the team. Listening to the athletes push each other and encourage each other every step of the way at Nationals was extremely rewarding. After each performance at Nationals, every athlete hugged each other and congratulated each other,” varsity cheerleading coach Ms. Westwater said.
Throughout NHP cheer’s journey from the sidelines of the football field to Nationals, a single senior was most striking in her overall athleticism and grit. Belinay Inan, recently recognized by Newsday as one of Long Island’s top 50 cheerleaders, was also awarded a spot in New Hyde Park’s Sports Hall of Fame for her outstanding performance in cheer. Though she had already met the requirements sophomore year, the honor was intentionally kept a secret until her senior year. Her impressive athletic achievements were a testament of her merit. The surprise was met with an excited crowd and tearful recipient.
“Being inducted into the New Hyde Park Sports Hall of Fame is something I never imagined and always dreamt of, especially as the first person to be recognized for cheer. When I found out, I cried. It was overwhelming in the best way. It showed me that all of the hard work, long hours, and sacrifices truly paid off. Cheerleading has meant so much more to me than performances or competitions; it shaped my leadership, my strength and who I am today. To represent cheer in the Hall of Fame is incredibly meaningful, and I’m beyond grateful to my coaches, teammates, family and everyone who has supported me,” Inan said.
Although NHP cheer’s success is majorly attributed to the athletes hard work and dedication, the support of the community also played an understated role. On January 20, 2026, New Hyde Park gathered in celebration for the departure of its varsity cheer team to Nationals. In great spirit and pride, New Hyde Park cheerleaders of all levels—including junior high, junior varsity and varsity cheer—performed with great vigor and strength on the mat. Students, teachers, coaches, families and administrators came together to show support for this competition. The send-off concluded as varsity cheer prepared to head to Florida.
NHP varsity cheer has broken boundaries, faced adversity and persevered with bravery. Their ranking as 11th in the nation serves as proof of their courage and tenacity. This accolade has truly defined what cheer means in both NHP’s athletic program and community.
