San Juan County Dance, Cheer Teams Compete at 2026 NMAA State Spirit Championships

Bloomfield's co-ed cheer squad claimed third place at the 2026 NMAA State Spirit Championships, scoring 159.1 in the A-4A division, as five San Juan County programs competed March 21-22 at The Pit in Albuquerque.

Farmington paced the local dance contingent with a combined 148.6 in the Dance 5A division, finishing behind Roswell, which captured the 5A dance title on the strength of a large opening score. Piedra Vista and Bloomfield also posted competitive combined scores in their respective classification fields, adding depth to San Juan County's overall showing across the two-day event.

Aztec and Kirtland Central rounded out the local delegation in the crowded 4A fields, both delivering steady performances across their respective events.

Bloomfield's third-place cheer result stood as the county's highest individual placement of the weekend. The A-4A division, like other state-level spirit divisions, featured tight scoring margins where small execution differences separated podium finishes from the remainder of the field. That competitive compression works against programs that travel from outside the Albuquerque metro corridor, where larger enrollment schools and regional training infrastructure have historically driven podium dominance.

Coaches from the San Juan County programs credited their athletes' preparation and composure in front of the large audiences that fill The Pit during championship events. Local reporting noted that San Juan County squads have steadily closed the gap on metro-area programs, framing the weekend's results as evidence of the region's rising competitiveness in spirit activities.

For student-athletes, state championship appearances carry tangible weight beyond placings, supporting scholarship applications and program recognition. For coaching staffs, the judges' feedback provides a concrete benchmark heading into the offseason. All five programs are expected to use that feedback to refine routines, difficulty progressions, and team composition as they build toward the 2026-27 cycle.