NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – A hectic competition season continued this weekend (Feb. 4-5) with the Concordia University Competitive Dance team testing itself against some of the top competition in the NAIA. While in action at the Bethel College Thresher Invite, the Bulldogs placed sixth out of 12 teams. Each of the 12 teams were given the opportunity to compete three separate times, including once on Friday and twice on Saturday. Place finishes were awarded based on each squad’s highest score on Saturday.
Concordia’s Thresher Invite Scores
Prelims – 55.9
Day 2, Rd 1 – 61.72
Day 2, Rd 2 – 61.38
Veteran leaders Katie Anderson and Haleigh Fitzsimmons helped pick the Bulldogs up after a score of 55.9 in the preliminary round on Friday. Concordia performed much better on Saturday with a high score of 61.72. The top four teams at the Thresher Invite turned in scores of 77 or better: St. Ambrose University (Iowa) (81.2), Baker University (Kan.) (80.55), Oklahoma City University (79.11) and Midland (77.2).
The Bulldogs placed above host Bethel, Kansas Wesleyan University, McPherson College (Kan.), Bethany College (Kan.), Southwestern College (Kan.) and University of Saint Mary (Kan.).
Said Maser, “We had a competition this weekend that was tough. The dancers were met with a lot of adversity and challenges out of the gate on Friday evening, but they performed through it and let that first performance that wasn’t up to their standard go and moved forward on to Saturday. Their scores increased by six points from one day to the next and they have the drive and team dynamic to continue to succeed this season.”
The Concordia competition team on Friday and Saturday included the following student-athletes:
· Katherine Anderson (Columbus, Neb.)
· Aubrey Baumann (Chester, S.D.)
· Haleigh Fitzsimmons (Lincoln, Neb.)
· Kenna Holtzen (Stromsburg, Neb.)
· Madison Koch (Doniphan, Neb.)
· Avery Lewis (Seward, Neb.)
· Lizbeth Vargas-Tapia (Omaha, Neb.)
· Maddie Wittstruck (Milford, Neb.)
Next up on the schedule for the Concordia Cheer and Dance teams will be the York College Invitational next Friday (Feb. 11). The event is slated to get underway at 5 p.m. CT from York, Neb. Maser and the Bulldogs will also soon be preparing to host the Concordia Cheer & Dance Duals on Feb. 19.