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How Tennessee Cheer’s Culture Brought Home a National Championship – University of Tennessee Athletics

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How Tennessee Cheer’s Culture Brought Home a National Championship – University of Tennessee Athletics


A blaring alarm rang out from Alexa Buras’ phone, shattering the tranquility of an otherwise silent and sleeping hotel room. It was 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 16, time to wake up and get ready for the day ahead.

The Tennessee Spirit team was in Orlando, Fla., competing in the 2026 UCA & UCD College Cheerleading and Dance Team Championships. The program returned to the Sunshine State seeking their fourth DIA Game Day title in six years, but the first for Buras.

This season was Buras’ second year as a member of the cheer team at Tennessee. She came in as a transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, a school of roughly 12,000 total students spread out amongst three campuses throughout southern Mississippi.

While Buras and Tennessee took part in the same competition last year, they were unable to claim a championship title, finishing in sixth place. Such was not the case this time.

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Tennessee cheer burst on to the scene at this year’s tournament, beginning the weekend with a strong performance. The squad’s first act landed them with an event score of 96.06 points, setting them in sole lead of first place heading into the final round.

After making some adjustments to their routine during downtime between shows, the team quickly returned to the mat to take their shot at winning a title. Once again, Tennessee delivered a stellar performance, reasserting the strengths that set them apart in the first round and capitalizing on the necessary improvements to the pieces that needed attention. 

After the performance, the team discovered they finished with the same score as the round prior, with 96.06 points. The group banded together as they witnessed the list of top-10 placements read aloud. The list started at No. 10 and worked its way to the top, causing the squad to hold its breath a little longer with every name that came before them.

By the time the list reached second place, Tennessee knew it was now or never— and this year, that moment was now. Elation abounded as UT heard its name called for first place in the DIA Game Day – Cheer Only finals and the program was crowned national champion. 

“It was really cool just being out there and knowing that we put our best out,” senior cheerleader Andrew Wallace said.

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Similar sentiments echoed throughout the team, including for Buras.

“It was crazy. That was my first time ever winning anything,” Buras said in relation to her own career. “The win meant a lot to me. I’ve been cheering for 13 years at this point and being able to go out with a win was all I could have ever asked for.”

Unlike Buras, the 2026 title was not the first championship under Wallace’s belt with Tennessee. Although he was not on the mat at the time, Wallace was a member of the team in 2024 when Tennessee won its last title in the same category.

Proving his second title meant no less than his first, Wallace understood the significance of playing a role in the championship win and said it was a result of all the hard work every member of the team puts in day in and day out. This is something he reflects on as he prepares for his next chapter of life outside of collegiate cheer.

“[The win] meant a lot because it meant all the work was worth it and that all the time and effort I’ve poured in, and all the effort the staff has poured into me was worth it,” Wallace said. “It all came into fruition.”

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To succeed in such a high-stakes, physical environment, the whole team must have deep trust in one another. One way this happens is through the group’s shared philosophy of being a family.

“We talk a lot about being a family, being one unit, and having each other’s backs,” spirit program director and dance coach Kelley Taffazoli said. “I think they always do a really good job with that.”

In addition to being a family, Tennessee’s spirit program prides itself on maintaining a championship culture. That is built through hard work on and off the mat. All members of the program hold themselves to a higher standard of living as individuals, something Taffazoli knows is necessary to win championships.

“Accountability is huge, especially when you’re trying to create a championship culture and it can’t just come from the top. It has to come from within as well,” Taffazoli said. “The kids really embrace that when they become a part of our program, really to be accountable and continually reach for that championship standard every single year.” 

Both Buras and Wallace have become an integral part of the Tennessee spirit program and close knit members of the cheer team as a whole. Building on the trust and accountability that makes the team so special, the senior pair is grateful for their time on Rocky Top and look to leave their own legacies as they pay back to those following in their footsteps.

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“With our senior class this year, we wanted to make everyone feel welcome. With the freshmen coming in, we tried to make sure that we included them in everything we did,” Wallace said. “Not only did we include them, but that we held them—and ourselves—to the standard that our coaches set before us and the seniors before us set.”

The combination of life lessons and excellence on the mat continue to feed into Tennessee spirit’s championship-winning culture, as their student-athletes continue to shape the program’s success for the future. 

“I always tell them to leave something better than they found it,” cheer coach Chelsea Bowlin said. “When you come in, even if you win or not, the goal should always be to leave the program better than you found it.”



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Tennessee

Furman beats East Tennessee State for SoCon title, NCAA berth

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March 10, 2026

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Furman beats East Tennessee State for SoCon title, NCAA berth


ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Cooper Bowser had 21 points and 11 rebounds as No. 6 seed Furman beat top-seeded East Tennessee State 76-61 on Monday night to secure the Southern Conference tournament title and an NCAA tournament bid.

Furman (22-12) won its eighth SoCon title in program history and first since defeating Chattanooga in 2023.

Tom House added 13 points off the bench for Furman and Alex Wilkins, who scored a career-high 34 to help rally from an 11-point halftime deficit in the semifinals, scored 12. Bowser was 9-of-12 from the field to help the Paladins shoot 51%.

Brian Taylor II scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half for ETSU (23-11), which was in the title game for the second time in three seasons. Blake Barkley added 14 points and Jaylen Smith had 10.

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House made Furman’s sixth 3-pointer of the first half to extend the lead to 37-27 with four minutes left. The Paladins led 42-35 at the break.

Wilkins’ steal and fast-break dunk extended Furman’s lead to 72-61 with 2:11 left and Bowser added a hook shot in the lane on their next possession for a 13-point lead.

ETSU went 2-of-7 from the field over the final five minutes to halt a comeback attempt. The Buccaneers finished 3-of-16 from 3-point range and 10 of 18 at the free throw line.

The Buccaneers were trying for their first NCAA bid since 2020.



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Titans free agency: Tennessee signing offensive weapons to help QB Cam Ward, bolstering coach Robert Saleh’s defense, reports say

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March 9, 2026

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Titans free agency: Tennessee signing offensive weapons to help QB Cam Ward, bolstering coach Robert Saleh’s defense, reports say


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Let the spending spree begin. The NFL offseason is now in full swing as free agents are beginning to sign with new homes throughout the league ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft in April.

The Tennessee Titans are among the top franchises with the most cap space in the league.

Latest: Tennessee Titans reportedly trade young defensive tackle for Pro Bowl defensive end from New York Jets

Previous: Tennessee Titans release center Lloyd Cushenberry

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Below is a look at the free agents and moves the Titans have reportedly made:

  • Cornerback Alontae Taylor – three-year $60 million deal
  • Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott – three-year $45 million deal
  • Defensive tackle John Franklin-Meyers – three-year $63 million deal
  • Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky – two-year deal
  • Tight end Daniel Bellinger – three-year $24 million deal
  • Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson – four-year $70 million deal
  • Long snapper Morgan Cox – re-signed one-year deal

Before the free-agency frenzy, the Titans released center Lloyd Cushenberry and also reportedly traded away defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat for Pro Bowl defensive end Jermaine Johnson.

Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.



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TN Lottery Cash 3 Evening, Cash 4 Evening winning numbers for March 8, 2026

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2 days ago

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March 9, 2026

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The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Cash 3 numbers from March 8 drawing

Evening: 1-8-7, Wild: 8

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Cash 4 numbers from March 8 drawing

Evening: 1-0-9-7, Wild: 7

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Tennessee Jackpot numbers from March 8 drawing

10-19-30-33-35

Check Daily Tennessee Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 8 drawing

01-31-32-45-52, Bonus: 05

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Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Tennessee Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Tennessee Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket, a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of social security number to P.O. Box 290636, Nashville, TN 37229. Prize claims less than $600 do not require a claim form. Please include contact information on prizes claimed by mail in the event we need to contact you.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID and proof of social security number to any of these locations:

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Nashville Headquarters & Claim Center: 26 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214, 615-254-4946 in the (615) and (629) area, 901-466-4946 in the (901) area, 865-512-4946 in the (865) area, 423-939-7529 in the (423) area or 1-877-786-7529 (all other areas in Tennessee). Outside Tennessee, dial 615-254-4946. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Knoxville District Office: Cedar Springs Shopping Center, 9298 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922, (865) 251-1900. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Chattanooga District Office: 2020 Gunbarrel Rd., Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN 37421, (423) 308-3610. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Memphis District Office: Chiles Plaza, 7424 U.S. Highway 64, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133, (901) 322-8520. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

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Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://tnlottery.com/.

When are the Tennessee Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
  • Cash4Life: 9:15 p.m. CT daily.
  • Cash 3, 4: Daily at 9:28 a.m. (Morning) and 12:28 p.m. CT (Midday), except for Sunday. Evening game daily, seven days a week, at 6:28 p.m. CT.
  • Daily Tennessee Jackpot: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
  • Tennessee Cash: 10:34 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
  • Powerball Double Play: 10:30 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Tennessean editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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