Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Cheer Continues to Raise the Bar
10/14/2025 5:09:00 PM | Spirit Squad
Since taking over as Spirit Squad Director and Head Cheerleading Coach in May 2021, Valerie Ruiz has led Northwestern's cheerleading team to unprecedented success.
In July, the team experienced a breakthrough in Daytona Beach, Florida, marking its most successful summer yet by becoming the first in program history to earn a Silver Paid Bid, the second-highest recognition awarded at NCA College Summer Camp.
"We're hitting everything, and we're being consistent and loud. We received a lot of positive feedback from the staffers and from other program directors," Ruiz said.
Eleven cheerleaders competed for Northwestern this summer, an incredibly small number compared to many other universities. The Wildcats boast the smallest cheerleading program in the Big Ten, for reference.
Regardless of the size of the team, Northwestern found incredible success. In both the Game Day and Rally Routine categories, the Wildcats placed second. The team also took home the Most Collegiate Award, the NCA College Spirit Stick, and two Blue Superior Ribbons.
Given these results, Ruiz began calling her squad "small, but mighty."
"It never happens where a small team comes in, competes in this category, and then goes home with this success," Ruiz said. "It's usually awarded to bigger teams, and a lot of the staff kept saying how loud and how big we presented ourselves, how much energy we had, and that they were really blown out of the water with our performance."
In addition, Ruiz led Northwestern's mascot team to UCA College Training Camp in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin in August. There, Willie the Wildcat was joined by several Power conference mascots and was awarded the Most Improved Award.
"We're new to the group and competing and getting scored and evaluated, so they want to see growth," Ruiz said of winning the award. "They want to see creativity, fan engagement, and just how we raised the bar during those four days at camp."
Northwestern's cheerleaders and Willie the Wildcat have been a consistent presence on the sidelines for the football team's home games, played along the shores of Lake Michigan at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. With football season in full swing, they will also start to set their sights on Welsh-Ryan Arena as basketball season approaches, ready to energize the crowd and bring excitement, just as they did all summer.
"Our program is improving," Ruiz said. "Not only did we just make history by doing incredible and getting the Most Improved Award for our mascot team, but it just shows what we're doing here at home in Evanston. We're putting our best foot forward to represent Northwestern and the Wildcats."
In July, the team experienced a breakthrough in Daytona Beach, Florida, marking its most successful summer yet by becoming the first in program history to earn a Silver Paid Bid, the second-highest recognition awarded at NCA College Summer Camp.
"We're hitting everything, and we're being consistent and loud. We received a lot of positive feedback from the staffers and from other program directors," Ruiz said.
Eleven cheerleaders competed for Northwestern this summer, an incredibly small number compared to many other universities. The Wildcats boast the smallest cheerleading program in the Big Ten, for reference.
Regardless of the size of the team, Northwestern found incredible success. In both the Game Day and Rally Routine categories, the Wildcats placed second. The team also took home the Most Collegiate Award, the NCA College Spirit Stick, and two Blue Superior Ribbons.
Given these results, Ruiz began calling her squad "small, but mighty."
"It never happens where a small team comes in, competes in this category, and then goes home with this success," Ruiz said. "It's usually awarded to bigger teams, and a lot of the staff kept saying how loud and how big we presented ourselves, how much energy we had, and that they were really blown out of the water with our performance."
In addition, Ruiz led Northwestern's mascot team to UCA College Training Camp in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin in August. There, Willie the Wildcat was joined by several Power conference mascots and was awarded the Most Improved Award.
"We're new to the group and competing and getting scored and evaluated, so they want to see growth," Ruiz said of winning the award. "They want to see creativity, fan engagement, and just how we raised the bar during those four days at camp."
Northwestern's cheerleaders and Willie the Wildcat have been a consistent presence on the sidelines for the football team's home games, played along the shores of Lake Michigan at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. With football season in full swing, they will also start to set their sights on Welsh-Ryan Arena as basketball season approaches, ready to energize the crowd and bring excitement, just as they did all summer.
"Our program is improving," Ruiz said. "Not only did we just make history by doing incredible and getting the Most Improved Award for our mascot team, but it just shows what we're doing here at home in Evanston. We're putting our best foot forward to represent Northwestern and the Wildcats."
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