SEWARD, Neb. – While hosting the third annual Concordia Cheer & Dance Invitational, the Concordia University Dance team put together another strong showing. The Bulldogs posted a score of 71.26 while taking second place out of a field of eight teams that descended upon Friedrich Arena on a snowy Saturday (Feb. 6) morning. The competition featured seven GPAC squads and Peru State College.
Head Coach Mandi Maser’s squads are making waves while displaying major improvement as compared to the past several seasons.
“Concordia Cheer and Dance did a great job today,” Maser said. “Both teams really pushed themselves to perform with more consistency and precision today. We increased some difficulty for both teams and they stepped up to the challenge. We are really proud of how well this event went on our campus and how well both teams did.”
Only conference rival Midland outperformed Concordia, which had placed sixth out of 10 teams at its own invite one year ago. The judges’ scores reflect a team that is executing its routines at a higher degree of difficulty compared to last season. The Bulldogs were graded consistently high in their “team turns” and “team leaps.”
The competition team for the Bulldogs on Saturday included:
· Katherine Anderson (Columbus, Neb.)
· Haleigh Fitzsimmons (Lincoln, Neb.)
· Kenna Holtzen (Stromsburg, Neb.)
· Avery Lewis (Seward, Neb.)
· Hannah Schmidt (Gretna, Neb.)
· Lizbeth Vargas-Tapia (Omaha, Neb.)
· Madeline Wittstruck (Milford, Neb.)
In previous competitions this season, the Concordia Dance team has won duals over Mount Marty and College of Saint Mary, lost to Morningside and earned second place at the Friends University Day of Duals.
The Bulldogs will make their second-to-last home competition appearance on Wednesday when they host Hastings for a dual that will take place inside Friedrich Arena. The action is scheduled to start at approximately 6:30 p.m. CT (halftime of the women’s basketball game).
Concordia Cheer & Dance Results
DANCE
1. Midland – 86.36
2. Concordia – 71.26
3. Hastings – 67.86
4. College of Saint Mary – 65.86
5. Doane – 63.7
6. Dordt – 62.93
7. Northwestern – 57.7
8. Peru State – 51.7
CHEER
1. Midland – 69.53
2. Concordia – 66.18
3. Hastings – 65.12
4. Doane – 59.56
5. Northwestern – 56.7
6. Peru State – 45.15