The spirit squads won the regional competition, moving them forward to the National Championships.
Both the cheer and pom teams won first place at the Southwest Regional qualifier on Feb. 23 in the Abe Lemons Arena of Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. The spirit squads advanced to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championships March 8.
After the preliminary and final rounds, the pom team ended up with a final score of 82.44. more than 12 points ahead of the runner-up, Kansas Wesleyan University, whose score was 60.37.
In addition to placing first, four members of the pom team were named to the 2019 NAIA Competitive Dance All-American Team. Those students include Pom Freshman Jordyn Pierson, Pom Senior Jenna McWilliams and Pom Juniors Makenzi Fox and Lauren Kysela. Honorable mentions were awarded to Pom Senior Molly Hodgden, Pom Junior Andrea Strickler and Pom Sophomores Megan Berning and Caroline Cannedy.
To prepare for competitions, the pom team has been practicing their routine since early January.
After each competition, they apply critiques from judges and trusted mentors as they evaluate what can be done better, said Tasha Hinex, head pom coach.
“We’re building stamina and finding parts that weren’t visually reading well and making them clear,” she said.
Hinex has been coaching the pom team since 2009 and has lead them to five NAIA National Championships.
“As far as performance and talent, this is probably one of the best teams we’ve had in a while,” she said.
The team meets four times a week, but because of their advancement to nationals, they have implemented an additional routine-based practice session each week.
Berning said she is ecstatic for the opportunity to compete at nationals.
“We’ve all put in so much work,” she said. “So, now is the time to get that final push in our practices, go do what we love and leave it all out on the floor.”
At the regional competition, the cheer team’s final score was 89.73, sixteen points higher than that of the runner up, Warner University, who scored 73.59.
Cheer Junior Maggie Hirsekorn and Cheer Freshman Logan York were selected for the 2019 NAIA Competitive Cheer All-American Team. Honorable mentions were given to Cheer Freshman Kenzie Landes, Cheer Senior Kailee Walker and Cheer Junior Ashton Beier.
Cheer Sophomore Amber Kammerlocher said the competition team practices three times a week.
“We are definitely a team that sets a lot of goals,” Kammerlocher said. “As we achieve them, we make new goals and make them harder.”
The team is practicing with more intensity as they prepare for nationals, said Alicia Bailey, head cheer coach. This is Bailey’s fifth year coaching the team and her fifth year leading the team to nationals.
“There’s more excitement, more confidence, and we’re ready to finish the season on a high note,” Bailey said.
The national championship competitions for cheer and pom are in Davenport, Iowa at St. Ambrose University. The preliminary round landed the cheer team in third place and the pom team in sixth place. The cheer team took runner-up March 9 with a score of 81.00, and the pom team took fifth place with a score of 71.83.
Contributing: Copy Editor Chandler White
Leave a Reply