Teams To Watch At The 2026 UCA & UDA Mid-South Regional

The season is just getting started, and the UCA & UDA Mid-South Regional offers an early look at nationally-ranked programs with new routines to share!

Oct 23, 2026 by Aisa Terry

Teams To Watch At The 2026 UCA & UDA Mid-South Regional

New routines. Familiar contenders. A new season ready to take shape.

The 2026 UCA & UDA Mid-South Regional heads to the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee, on Sunday, October 25, with all the action streaming live on Varsity TV. This weekend’s floor features programs that competed at the 2026 National School Spirit Championships DI and DII earlier this year—and several have national podium finishes on their résumés.

From cheer and dance to combined spirit performances, here are teams worth adding to your weekend watchlist!

Independence High School

A national champion is headed to Memphis! Independence High School won Varsity Spirit Program Game Day Live (CH/BD) at the 2026 NSSC DI, bringing cheer and band together for a championship performance.

Independence is set to compete in this same combined category this weekend, along with Medium Varsity Cheer and Varsity Pep Band. Here's a look back at how the program brought their teams together at the 2026 National School Spirit Championship:

Hendersonville High School

Hendersonville High School earned second place in Large Varsity Spirit Program Game Day (CH/DA) at the 2026 NSSC DI. That national runner-up finish makes its combined cheer and dance performance one to watch in Memphis.

Hendersonville’s regional performances will also include Small Varsity Cheer, Small Varsity Game Day, and Varsity Hip Hop. With multiple opportunities to take the floor, fans will get a look at both the individual teams and their combined school spirit. Here's a look back at their 2026 NSSC DI performance:

Collierville High School

Keep Collierville on your radar across both the cheer and dance sides of the competition. Collierville High School finished third in Large Varsity Spirit Program Game Day (CH/DA) at the 2026 NSSC DI. The dance team also placed third in Large Varsity DI Game Day at the 2026 UDA National Dance Team Championship..

This weekend, Collierville is registered for Super Varsity Cheer, Super Varsity Game Day, Varsity Dance Game Day, Varsity Pom, and combined Spirit Program Game Day. That lineup gives viewers plenty of reasons to follow the Dragons throughout the event. Here's a look back at two of Collierville High School's 2026 nationals performances:

Goodpasture High School

Goodpasture High School made its presence felt across the inaugural NSSC DII weekend, finishing third in the high school points race after competing across cheer, dance, band, and combined spirit categories. The program also earned third in Varsity Spirit Program Game Day Live (CH/DA/BD).

For the Mid-South Regional, turn your attention to Goodpasture’s dance entries: Varsity Intermediate Hip Hop and Pom, plus Junior High Dance Game Day and Hip Hop. It’s an opportunity to see the program’s next chapter after a busy national championship weekend earlier this year. Take a look back at their 2026 NSSC DII spirit program performance:

Franklin-Simpson High School

The intermediate dance divisions deserve a spot on your watchlist too! Franklin-Simpson High School placed fourth in Varsity Intermediate DII Hip Hop at the 2026 UDA National Dance Team Championship.

The team is registered for Varsity Intermediate Hip Hop, Varsity Intermediate Jazz, and Varsity Dance Game Day this weekend. Watch for how Franklin-Simpson carries that nationals experience into a new season of regional performances. Look back at their Varsity Intermediate performance at 2026 NDTC DII:

Arlington Middle School And Collierville Middle School

The junior high dance field brings national podium experience of its own.

At the 2026 DI National Dance Team Championship, Collierville Middle School finished second in Junior High Game Day and fifth in Junior High Pom. Arlington Middle School joined Collierville on the Game Day podium with a third-place finish.

Both programs are registered for Junior High Dance Game Day this weekend in Memphis. Collierville also has a Pom entry, while Arlington is entered in Hip Hop, giving fans more chances to catch these nationally tested programs. Take a look back at their 2026 nationals performances:

Hernando Middle School

On the cheer side, Hernando Middle School is another junior high program to follow. Hernando earned second place in Junior High Non Tumbling Game Day at the 2026 DI National High School Cheerleading Championship during NSSC DI weekend.

The program is set to compete in Junior High Non Tumbling and Junior High Non Tumbling Game Day this weekend, along with Junior High Dance Game Day. Keep an eye on their return to the Game Day division after their national runner-up finish earlier this year - take a look:

Watch The Mid-South Regional Live On Varsity TV

The season is just getting started, and Memphis offers an early look at programs with national experience and new routines to share.

Watch the 2026 UCA & UDA Mid-South Regional live on Varsity TV on Sunday, October 25. Visit the event hub for the latest performance schedule and results.

Join The Conversation On Social

Like us on Facebook @Varsity Spirit