SEWARD, Neb. – Conference championships are nearing for the Concordia University, Nebraska Competitive Cheer and Dance teams. The 2025 GPAC Championship competition will unfold on Friday (March 7) for dance and on Saturday (March 8) for cheer. For the first time in the history of the GPAC Championships, the Bulldogs will serve as the host. Doane hosted the conference competition in each of the previous four years. The complete schedule for the eight GPAC cheer squads is outlined below.
2025 GPAC Cheer Championships
Saturday, March 8 | 10 a.m. | Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Live Stream: https://www.gpacnetwork.com/cune/
Event Schedule – Cheer
-Prelims performance times:
10:00 a.m. – Mount Marty
10:12 a.m. – Hastings
10:24 a.m. – Concordia
10:36 a.m. – Doane
10:48 a.m. – Dordt
11:00 a.m. – Midland
11:12 a.m. – Northwestern
11:24 a.m. – Morningside
-Finals performance times (based on prelims scores):
12:24 p.m. – eighth place
12:36 p.m. – seventh place
12:48 p.m. – sixth place
1:00 p.m. – fifth place
1:12 p.m. – fourth place
1:24 p.m. – third place
1:36 p.m. – second place
1:48 p.m. – first place
2:20 p.m. – GPAC All-Conference recognition
2:25 p.m. – Awards ceremony/score announcements
Leading up to the championship competition, Head Coach Emilie Ashenbach’s cheer squad has competed in five events. The Bulldogs placed second at CIT and have won dual competitions this season against the likes of Waldorf, Mount Mercy University (Iowa) and Benedictine College (Kan.). Concordia’s highest score (77.15) this season occurred at the MidAmerica Nazarene Duals. The team’s season average of 73.17 ranks 38th best in the NAIA (out of 69 teams that have reported scores in 2025).
2025 Competitions
Jan. 25 – Placed 2nd at CIT
Feb. 7 – Placed 7th/16 (69.97) at York Crown Classic
Feb. 8 – Won vs. Waldorf (76.2); won vs. Mount Mercy (76.8) at Concordia Duals
Feb. 15 – Lost vs. MidAmerica Nazarene (75.47); won vs. Benedictine (77.15); placed 5th overall (152.62) at MidAmerica Nazarene Duals
Feb. 22 – Placed 8th/10 (63.43) at Dordt Invite
At the 2024 GPAC Championship, the Bulldogs placed fifth with a score of 80.73. The top four finishers in the GPAC were Northwestern (92.67), Midland (88.79), Hastings (81.14) and Dordt (80.82). Concordia standouts Bri Hoyle and Shelby Timmerman emerged with 2024 GPAC All-Conference awards.
For those who qualify, the 2025 season will continue at the ninth annual NAIA Competitive Cheer and Dance National Championship, scheduled for March 28-29 in Ypsilanti, Mich. For additional information on the national event, check out the NAIA sport home pages: Cheer | Dance.