TOPEKA, Kan. – The Lourdes competitive cheer team finished 13^th in the country at this year's NAIA National Championships in Topeka, Kansas.

The Gray Wolves got an 81.85 in the preliminary round on Friday but improved their final score to 82.42 with their final performance in program history on Saturday.

Lourdes finished higher than WHAC counterpart Madonna by roughly 0.8 points and also finished higher than host school Baker University.

The Gray Wolves were within a point from the 11^th place spot and within four points of making the top-10.

Although St. Ambrose was in first after the preliminaries, Xavier University of Louisiana made a comeback and won the NAIA National Championship with an outstanding score of 96.13. The final results of the tournament are below.

15^th - Baker University (80.94)
14^th - Madonna University (81.23)
13^th - Lourdes University (82.42)
12^th - University of St. Mary (82.46)
11^th - Taylor University (83.67)
10^th - University of Tennessee Southern (86.04)
9^th - Northwestern College (Iowa) (86.40)
8^th - Florida Memorial University (86.61)
7^th - Missouri Valley College (88.44)
6^th - Dickinson State University (90.46)
5^th - Oklahoma City University (91.48)
4^th - University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) (91.73)
3^rd - St. Ambrose University (91.75) 
2^nd - Indiana Wesleyan University (92.72) - NAIA National Runner-Up
1^st - Xavier University of Louisiana (96.13) - NAIA National Champions

Reaching the NAIA national tournament was a storybook ending to one of the most successful athletic programs in Lourdes history. Cheer's head coach Kortney Nieckarz commented after the competition on their incredible season.

"We didn't just compete this season, we fought for it." Coach Nieckarz said. "Through every challenge, every setback, and every moment that could have broken us, this team chose to rise up. They stepped on that mat and gave everything they had—not once, but twice—delivering two solid routines when it mattered most. We finished 13th in the nation, but what this team accomplished goes far beyond any placement. This season built a bond that will last long after the final performance, and it revealed a level of strength, resilience, and heart that you can't measure on a scoresheet. This wasn't easy, but it was worth it. This team has created a legacy that reaches far beyond the scoreboard, and they will always be something special. I am forever proud of them and everything they fought for together."

The 2026 season was one of the most successful seasons in Lourdes history. The team scored over an 80 in six out of their seven competitions, resulting in a WHAC Regular season title, WHAC tournament runner-up placement, and NAIA National Tournament berth.