SAU Dance Team wins fourth NAIA National Title
For the fourth time in the eight-year history of the event, the St. Ambrose Dance Team proved to be the best of the best as the team won the 2024 Nfinity NAIA Competitive Dance Championships at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Mich., Saturday.
The program's fourth NAIA National Title overall and second in a row came by less than half a point.
SAU posted an opening-round score of 92.07 and earned a championship-sealing score of 92.63 in Saturday's final round for an overall total of 92.49. That marked the second-highest score in championship history, trailing only St. Ambrose's title-winning total of 93.40 at the 2023 Championships. It was just enough to edge runner-up Midland (Neb.), who finished with an overall score of 92.13. First-round scores account for 25 percent of the overall total while final-round scores account for 75 percent.
Baker (Kan.) won a tiebreaker to claim third place over Grand View as both program's finished with scores of 88.66. Oklahoma City was fifth with an overall score of 87.86.
St. Ambrose team members included Maddy Barnes, Alyssa Broer, Lexi Crook, Shea Denahy, Annika Foit, Cassidy Gerdts, Sydnie Offermann, Sara Gundacker, Josie Kaffenberger, Karli Langley, Rosie Manikham, Alexandra Olson, Ellie Schilling, Emma Schoonover, Maggie Schreiber, Grace Sheldon, Sydney Westendorf and Leah Zeimet.
The SAU Cheer Team also won its second consecutive NAIA National Championship.