NDA To Crown First Medium Varsity Kick Champions In 2018

Posted March 2, 2018

There’s a division at the 2018 NDA High School Nationals that's only been hosted one year since the start of the championship —the Medium Varsity division!

2018 is brining back the opportunity for a national champion to be crowned in the Medium Kick Division! High Kick was the only Varsity category without a Medium Varsity Division last year, and NDA is excited to bring this opportunity back. The only team to earn a championship title in this division was Smithtown West High School in 2014!

To qualify and compete in any Medium Division at NDA, the dance team must have 11-14 dancers take the stage. Following the NDA rules of Kick, each routine must have a minimum of 45 kicks performed by the majority of the team. That’s quite a few kicks to fit into just two minutes!

High Kick is always a crowd pleaser because of the precision, visuals, and symmetry of the routines. Be ready for these skilled athletes to wow the crowd as they showcase their flexibility and strength as well.

Varsity TV caught up with the head coach of the reigning Large Varsity Kick Champions, the Lake Mary Marionettes, to hear more about what helps teams stand out in this tough category. Coach Stephanie Kersten has been coaching and competing at NDA for 13 years.

“I believe the NDA judges are looking for technical kicks that are clean and unique and difficult kick sequences," Kersten said. "I also believe at NDA, the theme plays a lot into their love for the number, which I love, but it also makes it harder to choose a theme every year.”

When you watch past routines in the Kick Division, theme is everything! Here are some teams that you should tune in for this weekend that have moved to the Medium Division.

Smithtown West Varsity Whisperettes

Smithtown West won the championship in the Small Varsity Kick in 2017 and are ready to claim a new title with more dancers this year. Check out their routine from last year.

Rancocas Valley Regional High School

These dancers took home the runner up in Small Varsity Kick and always put on on a show. Will the New Jersey team find the top spot in the new division this weekend?

Madison High School Dollies

The Dollies have done well at NDA in the past and their moving from the Large to Medium this year! Let’s see if they can up the energy and wow the judges again with their new routine. The Dollies took home third place with this routine.

New Smyrna Beach High School Showdolls

The Showdolls have one of the longest legacies competing kick, so they might surprise us with a top spot this year!

Be sure to capture every moment in this brand new High Kick division at the 2018 NDA High School Nationals!

By Megan Miles

How To Watch

Join Varsity TV PRO now to stream live Varsity TV competitions & events anytime, on any device!

TV: Available on Roku & Apple TV 4 — download the FloSports TV app now.

*FloCheer PRO subscribers, you can use your existing login to access to all Varsity TV premium content, live streaming competitions and events.

Related News

Looking Back on 10 Routines from the Inaugural National School Band Championship

History was made at the inaugural National School Band Championship as talented bands from across the country took center stage at The Walt Disney World Resort! The competition, part of the National School Spirit Championships, showcased the energy, musicianship and school pride of programs competing in the standalone Pep Band Division. Bands were also able to collaborate with their cheer and dance teams in the Spirit Program Game Day Live division. Relive the excitement as we look back at 10 unforgettable performances from the first-ever NSBC Pep Band competition!

10 Most Watched Routines From The UDA DI National Dance Team Championship 2026

Year after year, we see top talent take the floor at the National Dance Team Championship! New in 2026, Division I programs (enrollment of 1,400 or more) gathered for the DI National School Spirit Championships, which includes the UDA DI National Dance Team Championship. Teams from across the country showcased their hard work and skill in hopes of earning the top spot and being crowned National Champions.

The 10 Most-Watched Routines From NCA All-Star Nationals 2026

NCA All-Star Nationals 2026 was an unforgettable experience as all star cheer took over Houston, Texas! This weekend had countless moments that will be talked about for years to come, from teams taking over the George R. Brown Convention Center to shining under the bright lights of the Toyota Center. From unforgettable performances to routines fans couldn’t stop replaying, the 2026 competition delivered plenty of must-watch moments. Now, we’re counting down the 10 most-watched routines from the 2026 NCA All-Star Nationals on Varsity TV. Check out the full list here!

The Top 10 Most-Watched Routines From The DI UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship

The 2026 DI National High School Cheerleading Championship was a weekend filled with school pride and amazing skills! This year, hundreds of teams traveled to Orlando, Florida in hopes to be crowned national champions and receive the coveted white satin jacket. We dove into the stats to see what routines captured the audiences attention. Take a look at the top 10 most-watched routines on Varsity TV from the weekend: