By Christopher Pimentel Jr., September 1, 2026
Cal Poly Pomona Cheer won first place in small coed fight song and third in both small coed overall and sideline at the 2026 Universal Cheerleaders Association College Camp Aug. 6-9.
In the fight song competition, they performed their traditional cheer that they do at other sports games that includes lead cheers, stunts and tumbling. However, they were limited to three minutes for their full performance. The team was also awarded third in sideline cheer which includes the way the team can get the crowd pumped up and support their team through short repetitive chants and motions. They were also awarded third for their overall performance as a small coed group looking at all aspects of their cheer routines and how they perform together as a group.
The UCA College Camp took place at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where the Broncos competed against other small coed teams such as Grand Canyon University, the national champs in 2026, San Diego State University, who placed ninth and University of California, San Diego, who placed tenth.
Fourteen universities attended the camp, and when the teams arrived, each one was separated into three different groups: large coed, small coed and all girls, depending on the squads the schools brought. CPP competes in small coed events with 21 members including three male athletes. According to Head coach Cesar Govea, the roster follows UCA restrictions of four male athletes per small coed squad.
The camp’s objective is to provide a place where teams of all levels can learn in both class environments and one-on-one with instructors to develop and hone their skills for game days, according to its website.
Although teams were taught lessons at the camp, Govea mentioned how they prep two weeks in advance to gain familiarity with the squad.
“We work on stunt timing and technique and teach our CPP gameday traditions to first-year members,” Govea said. “This ensures that we are familiar with working with each other to keep athletes safe from injuries. Timing, technique and trust are important factors when stunting.”
Govea has been coach for the Broncos for 10 years and even had the chance to coach his assistant coaches along the way. He said as a coach, he is there to help navigate them through their lives as both players and adults.
Aside from Govea, other veteran players have helped freshmen learn how to work better as a team and improve their overall fundamentals, according to biochemistry student Aiden Estrada-Garcia. As an incoming freshman to CPP, Estrada-Garcia said this will also be his first year doing cheer, calling it a “you only live once, moment.”
“I got invited to the tryouts and told myself, ‘If I don’t like it, I won’t come back, but if I do like it, then I’ll stay and give it a shot,’” Estrada-Garcia said. “Though after trying out and staying on the team, I haven’t regretted it.”
Estrada-Garcia said in three weeks he has been able to get close with the rest of the team as friends, crediting their warmth and welcoming attitude when he first joined the team. The time spent at the camp was no different. Being new, Estrada-Garcia said he felt nervous at the beginning, but by the end, he was able to trust himself and work better as a team.
CPP is one of the few Division II universities in the area that attends college camps and competitions, according to Govea. Some students on campus were unaware of their recent success and only recognized them for their fight song cheer at games.
“Honestly, I had no clue that they competed like that. I just thought they practiced to perform at the games,” said mechanical engineering student Jose Montaña. “It is always nice to hear that our school offers plenty of different sports programs where students can compete at a high level.”
Govea said the awards the Broncos won are not only a reflection of time and effort put into this program but also as a starting point in reaching their goal of putting CPP on the map in the cheer world.
Feature image courtesy of Cesar Govea
