The St. Gregory's University cheer team hopes to secure a spot at nationals when it competes at the NAIA South Qualifying Group Cheer/Dance Championships in Oklahoma City this weekend. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University.

The Cavs can qualify for NCA/NDA NAIA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla., by winning Saturday's competition or by gaining 75 percent of the winning team's score. They will be judged in categories such as stunts, baskets, pyramids, jumps, tumbling and motions/dance. SGU will be competing in the All-Girl Cheer division.

"For this first event, I am looking for the team to build confidence in each other, in their skills and most of all, in themselves," said SGU coach Jessica Stiles. "They have been working on their skills and their routine for months now and have come so far. I am excited for them to put what they have been working on out there for the collegiate cheerleading world to see."

The team will show a preview this weekend's routine on Thursday between the men's and women's basketball games against Oklahoma Baptist. This will take place in the intramural gym.

The NAIA currently considers competitive cheer an "emerging sport" and is working toward becoming the first collegiate governing body to host competitive cheer and dance as a "National Championship Sport." Until that time, the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) and National Dance Alliance (NDA) will host the NAIA teams' national competition.