John and Josh Marsh were front and center over the weekend as the University of Kentucky cheerleading program continued its dominance by winning its 21st national championship.
These brothers, who defy gravity as they tumble in tandem, spent much of their childhood outside of Atlanta training at their mother’s gym.
The competition took place at the HP Fieldhouse on the campus of ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla.
“I am extremely proud of this team,” UK head coach Jomo Thompson said in a press release. “They put in a lot of hard work all year to win this championship. It was an intense competition, and I am thrilled that we were able to get the win.”
The Wildcats finished ahead of Central Florida, who claimed second place, and the Alabama Crimson Tide, who took the last podium spot in the 2016 competition. Sunday night marked the fourth national title for the Wildcats this decade, after claiming the title in 2010, 2012, 2014 and now 2016.
Kentucky won eight straight national titles from 1995 to 2002 before finishing second in 2003. The Wildcats then won three straight from 2004 to 2006, falling short in 2007 with a third-place finish. Since Kentucky won its first title in 1985, it has won in 1987, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 more than any other Division 1A school.
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