Twelve Bees named NAIA Dance All-Americans
St. Ambrose, fresh off winning its fourth NAIA Competitive Dance National Championship, had a total of 12 individuals named NAIA All-Americans. SAU placed an NAIA-best 10 on the first team and one on each of the second and third teams.
Freshman Josie Kaffenberger posted the top score in the tryout process to be named the NAIA Dancer of the Year. She was one of the 10 St. Ambrose First Team All-Americans.
Sara Gundacker, Sydnie Offermann, Alexandra Olson and Leah Zeimet were all named to the first team for the second straight year. Ellie Schilling, a second-team selection in 2023, was also on the first team along with Maddy Barnes, Lexi Crook, Annika Foit and Rosie Manikham.
Shea Denahy was selected to the second team while Grace Sheldon earned third-team recognition.
The All-America teams are determined by the national championship judges. Competitors are graded on a scale where a score of 16.0 or better places someone on the First Team, 14.5-15.99 on the Second Team, and 12.0-14.49 on the Third Team. Student-Athletes are recorded doing four elements: range leaps, triple pirouette, two 8-count turns, and dance choreography. They are graded on a scale of 1-5 ranging from poor form and technique to superior form and technique.
SAU Dance won its fourth National Title by posting an overall score of 92.49 at the NAIA Championships. That was the second-highest score in championship history, trailing only SAU's title-winning total of 93.40 in 2023. St. Ambrose also won NAIA Championships in 2018 and 2021.