SAU Cheer goes back-to-back at NAIA Nationals
In the most competitive championship in the event's history, St. Ambrose provided a record-breaking performance to capture its second straight National Title at the 2024 Nfinity NAIA Competitive Cheer Championships at the Geroge Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Mich., Saturday.
With all 15 teams finishing with team scores above 82 points for the first time in the eighth-year history of the event, St. Ambrose bested its own record for highest score in the championship.
The Bees posted an amazing 97.87 score in the first round Friday and nearly matched it Saturday with a final-round 97.08. The team's overall score of 97.27, based on 25 percent of Friday's score and 75 percent of Saturday's, was 1.76 points better than SAU's championship score of 95.51 at last year's championship.
Team members included Ava Arnold, Kaylee Driscoll, Eliza Dzurisin, JP Elder, Carlos Fetterer, Graysen Gerlinger, Austyn Goodale, Sydnee Horstman, Izzy Kotalik, Jesse Lopez, Antwyon Lowery, Katelyn Mason, Alyssa Oczko, Taye Owten, Rachel Ruplinger, Ryan Russo, Haley Scholbrock, Savannah Schumacher, Taylor Smith, Will Smith, Regan Tucker and Bella Wheeler.
A total of five teams scored in the 90s. Xavier (La.) finished second with an overall score of 96.91. Oklahoma City was third with a score of 95.91. Concordia (Mich.) had a 91.73 and Dickinson State (N.D.) finished with a 91.06 to round out the top five.
The SAU Dance Team also won its second-straight National Championship, giving the program four National Titles in the last eight seasons.