Cheerleading is more than a sport – it’s a passion. A devotion. A lifestyle. With more than three million cheerleaders in the United States, we are living in a “cheer nation.”

Thousands spent the last five months cheering football teams from the sidelines.

Now that the football teams have completed their seasons, the teams who cheered them on from the sidelines are about to enter into a national competition of their own.

More than 3,000 athletes from colleges across the country, including Troy University, will hit the stage looking for their shining moment at the 25th annual Universal Cheerleading Association/Universal Dance Association College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship at Walt Disney World Jan. 16-18.

The best of the best will vie for the top spot in stunt, dance, hip hop and cheer. Mascots will even have a chance to bring home the gold with the College Mascot National Championships.

This year’s competition will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2 in February and March.

Highlights of every team’s routine will also be available on Varsity TV, Varsity.com’s broadband video on demand channel.