Pace cheerleaders won national and world titles

By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

MIAMI GARDENS | The cheerleaders of Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Miami Gardens made history as they became the first Miami-Dade County cheerleading program to win both a National Championship and a World Championship in the same year.

Competing in the Large Non-Tumbling Division II, the Spartans captured the school’s first-ever National Championship, marking a milestone moment in Pace High School athletics. The team continued its dominance on the global stage, earning a World Championship title, solidifying its place among the elite cheerleading programs in the nation.

The semifinals for their division were held Jan. 31, while the finals and World Championships took place Feb. 1. The tournaments were held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida.

The historic achievement was capped at the National High School Cheerleading Championships, where Monsignor Edward Pace High School delivered the only zero-deduction routine among all Miami schools competing in the finals. A zero-deduction routine signifies a flawless performance, with no falls or errors — an exceptional accomplishment at the national level of competition.

Earlier in the season, the team demonstrated its competitive excellence at the state level by earning a fourth-place finish at the FHSAA State Championships, further highlighting the consistency and strength of the program throughout the year.

The historic season was led by Head Coach Surella Rodriguez, with the support of Assistant Coaches Jasmine Mason and Lisa Mason, whose leadership guided the athletes to unprecedented success.

“This achievement represents years of hard work, discipline, and belief,” said Rodriguez. “Our athletes rose to every challenge and represented Monsignor Edward Pace High School with excellence on the biggest stages,” she added.

Most of the athletes have competed together for two to four years. The 27-member roster included six seniors, 11 juniors, and only five rookies — three freshmen and two sophomores — with the remainder returning upperclassmen.

The victory was especially emotional for seniors.

“Going into my senior season, I knew this would be our year, especially after being overlooked for four years. I prayed to God and, in the end, we made history. It feels like a true Cinderella story,” said Kanieya Drayton, a four-year member.

“As I entered my final season, I prayed to make history and become a champion. Through God’s grace and my teammates’ passion, we fulfilled that dream — not once, but twice,” said Leilah Percinthe, also a four-year member.

Rodriguez said last year’s third-place finish fueled the team’s determination.

“We knew our routine was stronger than the first-place team. It created a fire in us to come back stronger. From our first practice in April 2025 until our final performance, they trained at an elite level,” she said.

After regionals and states, the team made bold changes.

“The day we returned from the states, we reworked parts of our routine — unusually, so late in the season because nationals were the following week. But we believed, we prayed, and we worked in silence. The results were loud. We beat our rivals by 7.1 points. In cheerleading, you can lose by 0.10, so that margin was extraordinary.”

The journey began in April 2025, with summer training and daily practices from Jan. 3 to Jan. 30.

“So much sacrifice goes into a two-minute, 30-second routine. There are no do-overs or second chances, so preparation is key,” Rodriguez said.

Msgr. Pace Cheer represents the Archdiocese of Miami’s Monsignor Edward Pace High School and has built a strong tradition. Over nine years, the current staff has led the program to multiple FHSAA titles and national finalist finishes, including a 2025 national bronze medal.

The future of the program looks bright. Most of the team will come back, and they will have a championship to defend.

“The team next year will strive to win all the competitions and continue to represent Msgr. Pace High at the highest levels of the sport. Our goals are to win the state and regional championships as well as defend the title for nationals and worlds,” Rodriguez said.