The Missouri State University cheerleaders and Sugar Bears dance team are both ranked third nationally among Division 1 squads in their respective categories for the 2010 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship in Orlando, Fla., January 15-17.

The national rankings for both teams qualified them to earn an automatic berth and partially-paid trip to the national event, which is held at Disney's Wide World of Sports and Disney Hollywood Studios.

Last year, teams from 43 states and 152 universities and colleges competed in the College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship, produced by the Universal Cheerleaders Association and Universal Dance Association. The prestigious competition, which showcases the country's best college cheerleaders, dance team performers and mascots, is marking its 26th year.

Likewise, Missouri State mascot Boomer finished sixth nationally in the Open Mascot Division in recent national evaluations and narrowly missed the national competition cut. Boomer's finish marks the highest ranking ever by a Missouri State mascot in the pre-national rankings.

Last year at the UCA/UDA nationals, the Sugar Bears finished fourth in the Division 1 Dance event, and fifth in Division 1 Hip-Hop category, while the Cheerleaders were third in the Division I Co-Ed Cheer competition.