Spartan Supremacy: Michigan State Cheerleaders Rewrite History at 2025 ESPN Global Cheerleading Invitational
Orlando, Florida – June 2025 — Under the blazing Florida sun and the international spotlight of the 2025 ESPN Global Cheerleading Invitational, the Michigan State Spartan cheerleaders didn’t just show up. They showed out.
With cameras rolling and thousands of spectators in the stands of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, the Spartan squad put on a performance that will be talked about for years to come—not just for the gold they took home, but for the revolutionary nature of their routine. Competing against elite cheer programs from across the globe, including traditional powerhouses like Japan, Canada, South Korea, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, the Spartans transcended expectations, delivering a high-octane routine that scored a jaw-dropping, unprecedented perfect 100.
A New Standard in the Sport
This wasn’t simply a cheer routine—it was an athletic masterpiece. The Spartans opened their performance with a synchronized tumbling pass that stretched the entire mat, flawlessly executed by all 24 members of the team. From there, they launched into a gravity-defying sequence of pyramids and basket tosses, including a never-before-seen quadruple aerial twist mid-toss, dubbed “The Spartan Spiral” by commentators.
The crowd roared as the team’s centerpiece flyer, junior Kayla Thompson, soared more than 15 feet into the air during the final toss, flipping four times before landing perfectly in the arms of her base team. The innovation, precision, and difficulty of the routine stunned the judges—and reportedly caused a mid-session rulebook review by the competition committee.
Leadership and Legacy
Head Coach Alicia Moreno, in her seventh season at the helm of the Spartan cheer program, was visibly emotional after the final score was posted. “This team didn’t just push the envelope,” she said. “They ripped it open and rewrote the rules. We wanted to show the world that cheerleading is more than spirit—it’s sport, it’s art, and it’s evolution.”
Moreno credited the performance to months of relentless training, a revamped choreography team led by former Olympic gymnast Leila Zhang, and a culture of unity and fearlessness. “These athletes trusted each other at every height, every spin, every landing. That’s what made this possible.”
International Respect
Even rival coaches couldn’t deny what they witnessed. “We knew MSU had been working on something special,” said Takashi Ishikawa, head coach of Team Japan. “But that routine was revolutionary. It raised the ceiling for the entire sport.”
Team Canada’s co-captain, Alyssa Benoit, echoed the sentiment. “We’ve competed all over the world. What MSU did tonight will force every program to rethink what’s possible.”
Going Viral
As the event aired live on ESPN and streamed globally, social media exploded. Within minutes, clips of the routine topped trending charts on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Hashtags like #SpartanSpiral, #CheerRevolution, and #MSU100 flooded timelines.
Several celebrities and former athletes chimed in, including Simone Biles, who tweeted: “That MSU cheer team??!! ICONIC. Unreal athleticism and artistry. That’s the future of cheer—no, of sport.”
What’s Next?
With gold medals around their necks and international acclaim at their backs, the Spartan cheerleaders returned to East Lansing not just as champions, but as pioneers. Talks are already underway about the team leading an international cheerleading showcase tour later in 2025, with invitations from South Korea, Germany, and Australia.
Meanwhile, Coach Moreno is already thinking ahead: “This was only the beginning. The world saw what Spartan spirit looks like when it’s unleashed. Now, imagine what we do next.”
As Michigan State continues to blaze new trails in college athletics, the message from Orlando is clear: the Spartans aren’t just here to cheer—they’re here to change the game.
