Danville Cheer Team Wins NCAA Championship: Small-Town...

A small Illinois city is celebrating after two of its own reached the top of collegiate cheerleading, proving that big dreams can start in small towns.

Zach Mittman and Rudy Nicholas both grew up in Danville, Illinois, playing baseball and basketball at Danville High School. But cheerleading became their shared passion, one that would eventually bring them back together on the national stage.

Mittman started as a co-ed cheerleader at Danville High, where he helped make history as part of the first team to advance to IHSA Sectionals. That early success planted a seed that would grow into a coaching career.

Nicholas followed a similar path, starting as a basketball player before joining the cheer team at Danville Area Community College. When he transferred to McKendree University, he reunited with Mittman, who had become the head coach.

Together, they just won the NCAA College Cheerleading National Championship. It marks the first time anyone from Danville has claimed a national title at this level in collegiate cheerleading.

Danville Coach and Athlete Win NCAA Cheer Championship

Their coaches back home in Danville watched the victory with pride. Sharda Pascal coached both athletes during their formative years, helping build the foundation for their success.

The Ripple Effect

This win means more than a trophy for Danville. The championship shows young athletes in smaller communities that they don't need to leave home to develop championship-level skills.

Mittman continues coaching other highly ranked teams at McKendree, extending his impact beyond this single victory. Nicholas proved that switching sports and following your passion can lead somewhere extraordinary.

Their story creates a roadmap for the next generation of Danville athletes. Local talent combined with dedicated mentorship can compete with programs anywhere in the country.

The championship represents a full-circle moment that started in high school gyms and ended on the national stage, all rooted in one Illinois community that believed in its athletes.