The nation’s best traditions will try to reaffirm their dominance this weekend at nationals.The 17-time defending national championship cheerleading team will try to capture its third straight national championship this weekend at the Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championships at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Kentucky, which is the only squad to win back-to-back championships three times, has captured an unprecedented 17 titles (1985, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009), setting the standard in collegiate cheerleading. Led by head coach Jomo Thompson, the Cats compete Sunday (full schedule of both the cheerleading and dance teams will be listed below).Although the dance team hasn’t achieved quite the dominance the cheerleading team has conquered, its success throughout the years has been matched by few schools.Under the direction of first-year head coach Dawn Duncan Walters – who has injected a noticeable sign of enthusiasm back into the dance program – the Wildcats will look to build on their seventh-place finish in last year’s Universal Dance Association College Dance Team National Championships in Orlando this weekend. Most of the dance team’s success has come in the United Spirit Association College Nationals, although the Cats do stake claim to a fourth-place finish at the UDA National Championships in 2000. In the USA Nationals, UK has gathered six top-four finishes since 2003. Kentucky has finished third in the last two years and second in 2006. In 2005, the squad won the national championship in the jazz category.This year’s team will compete in both the UDA jazz (Saturday) and pom (Sunday) categories.The Kentucky mascot, Wildcat, will also compete in the Division IA mascot national championship on Friday at 6:52 p.m.Fans can stay up-to-date with the latest news from this weekend’s UCA and UDA National Championships at the Official Web site. Friday

6:52 pm – Wildcat in Division 1A Mascot National Championship

Mascot National Championship Awards – 7:00-7:30 pm

Saturday

7:20 pm – Division 1A Cheer Finalist Order Announced (for Sunday night)

9:05 pm – Dance Team in Division 1A Jazz Semifinals

9:45 pm – Division 1A Jazz Finalists Announced

Sunday

12:54 pm – Dance Team in Division 1A Pom Finals

4:00-5:10 pm – Dance Team in Division 1A Jazz Finals (exact times announced Saturday) 5:45-6:55 pm – Cheerleaders in Division 1A Cheer Finals (exact times announced Saturday)

7:00-8:00 pm – Final Awards, Division 1A Cheer and Dance