ORLANDO, Fla. — The Hackettstown High School varsity cheerleading program competed this past weekend at the 2026 National High School Cheerleading Championship at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, earning strong results on the national stage.
Hackettstown’s traditional cheer team narrowly missed advancing to the semifinals, finishing just 1.2 points below the cutoff. The school’s game day team advanced to the semifinals and delivered a strong routine before falling short of the finals by 1.4 points, placing 13th overall in the nation.
Coaches said the performances reflected steady improvement and progress toward long-term goals, citing the athletes’ teamwork, execution and representation of the school throughout the competition.
The Hackettstown fan section also drew attention during the event. Team officials said supporters were noted by choreographers and judges for their enthusiasm and spirit throughout the weekend.
The national competition marked the conclusion of the season for the game day team, which was unable to compete at the state championships earlier in the year because of a snowstorm. Coaches credited the team’s choreographer with creating a routine that helped athletes develop a strong appreciation for game day performances.
The traditional team will continue its season with upcoming state-level competition.
