ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University cheerleading team is looking forward to a new season that brings along plenty of new aspirations. The Saxons will feature a roster that brings along both returning student-athletes and first-year talents.
 
Alfred University is led by Head Coach Dr. Amy Button-Ervin, who is entering her fifth season with the program.
 
"Last season was a whirlwind for our program," Button-Ervin said. "When recruiting, I often use the analogy of our Saxons being in the infancy stage. We looked for student-athletes that will help us grow, and we have taken leaps and bounds as a result. I am very proud of our growth. The adversity we faced last year with injuries was met by a team that was willing to adapt and evolve."
 
In 2023, the Saxons had their earliest start to a spring season when they traveled to compete at Penn State Behrend. Alfred University appeared in five total competitions across the previous spring season, which included opportunities at Keuka College, Elmira College, Syracuse University and Gannon University. Ultimately, the Saxons made program history when they submitted a video in the fall that qualified them for the 2024 National Cheerleading Association National Championship Competition in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
"As a coach, qualifying for Nationals is the pinnacle of my career," Button-Ervin said. "This has felt like a huge deal to us. There isn't a higher qualification for a cheerleading program at this level. It wasn't easy work, and the girls had a mix of emotions between excitement and nerves. We had our eyes set on qualifying for Nationals at the start of the season. We aimed to have our video submission completed by Thanksgiving, which meant we needed to know our routine four months earlier than anticipated. We submitted just after the break, and that dedication from our team has made for a smooth transition going into the spring."
 
While Alfred University will welcome back several returning student-athletes, the roster will feature a total of nine first-year talents. With the roster outlook, the Saxons are confident in their chances to be successful this spring.

"I am so proud and impressed by our first-year athletes," Button-Ervin said. "We implemented accountability partners going into this season based on an individual's position. We had a mix of student-athletes paired together to work on goal setting and understanding one another. We have individual and shared goals, and we reflect on those goals once every few weeks. That helps us facilitate team comradery."
 
This season, Alfred University will begin the 2024 campaign even earlier when the team travels to Penn State Behrend on February 4 and to Elmira College on March 10. The Saxons will then host their first home competition on March 17. Following competitions at Gannon University and RIT in late March, the NCA College National Championships are scheduled to take place from April 10-13.
 
"My key goal is to ensure we have the opportunity to compete at Daytona," Button-Ervin said. "We are all committed, and we would love to place within the top 10 at Nationals. Overall, I want the team to see their value and worth. I know they're already proud of themselves, but I want them to feel accomplished and know they have already made history by exceeding qualifications."