- February 10, 2026
The Flagler Palm Coast traditional competitive cheer team placed ninth out of 44 teams at the Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championships Feb. 5-7 at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.
“Last year, for the first time in school history, we went to the national championships and did not even make it to the semifinals,” FPC cheer coach Kim Isom said. “But we stayed and watched the the teams, and the girls said, ‘We want that feeling.’”
In their second year at the championships, the Bulldogs were not only one of 22 teams to advance to semifinals on the second day of the event, they were also one of 12 teams to advance to the finals on Saturday, Feb. 7, and placed ninth among the elite field.
“I think it was a little bit of shock and awe last year,” Isom said. “This year, that was their goal. They wanted to put the school’s name out there and have fun and be a part of our shool’s history as far as competitive cheer goes. To make it to finals, it’s such an acccomplishment.”
The Bulldogs don’t have competitive cheer tryouts until October,” Isom said. “The girls condition and we do a lot of clinics throughout our sideline program. They were working on all of their techniques throughout the summer.”
Then in October, the competitive team had daily 6 a.m. practices. Having practices, so early, Isom said, they were able to see how serious the athletes were.
The team placed sixth in its division at the FHSAA state championship two weeks before nationals. In those two weeks they carefully went over every aspect of their routine to get it ready for nationals.
This year, for the first time, FPC also brought is Gameday competitive team to nationals. That team was eliminated after prelims.
“Hopefully, we’ll get the same reaction from them,” Isom said.
The Bulldogs have 27 athletes in their cheer program with four athletes in both the traditional and gameday competitions.
Rymfire Elementary School celebrated its 20th anniversary on Wednesday, Feb. 4, recognizing its former principals, including current Flagler Schools superintendent LaShakia Moore, as well as current principal Travis Lee.
Other former Rymfire principals were Paula St. Francis and Barbara Sauvelpahkick.
