Back Row (L to R): Chrissy Hanna, Rebecca Mejia, Sarah Davis, Tara Perez, Amy Zollner, Jennifer Johnson, Megan Teesdale; Front Row: Brandy Benito, Alyssa Daggett, Deanna Sexton, McKenzie Hall, Anabel dela Cerna, Chauna Powell

Nov. 22, 2002 - The George Mason University co-ed cheerleaders and Masonettes dance team have each qualified at the top of their classifications for the 2003 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships. Both events will be held in Orlando, FL, on Jan. 9-12.

After submitting video entry tapes, the Patriot co-ed cheerleaders were seeded first for the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) Division I final competition, while the Masonettes were seeded second in the Universal Dance Association (UDA) Division I category. With each team being declared a "Level I" qualifier (among the top two teams for dance, top four for cheer), both have received automatic bids into the finals and a paid trip for all team members and coaches to the competition.

There are two divisions of competition within NCAA Division I at the UCA and UDA championships. The major football schools are represented in Division I-A events, while the other schools are represented as Division I.

The co-ed cheerleaders entered last year's competition seeded third and placed fourth in the finals, their fifth consecutive year finishing in the top six. George Mason won the UCA national championship in 1990.

The No. 2 seeding for the Masonettes is their highest ever after a previous best of sixth heading into last year's championships, where they finished seventh.

Both teams are coached by former Patriots. Robin Burkhart is in her sixth year as the head coach of the cheerleading team, while Michelle Chin is in her fourth year at the helm of the Masonettes.