Dance

2021-22 Dance Schedule/Results

Date Event/Opponent Location Result
Jan. 19 Morningside University Dual Seward, Neb. (Friedrich) L, 63.85 - 74.85
Jan. 26 Hastings College/Peru State College Triangular Seward, Neb. (Friedrich) 2nd (63.55)
Jan. 27 Triangular at Doane (Doane / College of Saint Mary) Crete, Neb. 2nd (69.9)
Jan. 28 Midland Invitational Fremont, Neb. 5th / 6 (69.73)
Jan. 29 CIT - Cheer & Dance Competition *CANCELED* Seward, Neb. (Friedrich)  
Feb. 4-5 Bethel College Thresher Invite North Newton, Kan. 6th / 12 (61.7)
Feb. 11 York College Cheer & Dance Invitational York, Neb. 5th / 9 (70.47)
  Feb. 19: Concordia Cheer & Dance Duals    
Feb. 19 Triangular vs. Hastings/Missouri Baptist Seward, Neb. (Friedrich) 3rd (68.25)
Feb. 19 Dual vs. College of Saint Mary Seward, Neb. (Friedrich) W, 72.90 - 55.10
Feb. 25 GPAC Dance Championships/NAIA Regional Dance Qualifier Crete, Neb. 7th (67.99)

2021-22 Roster

Name Year Hometown Previous School
Katherine Anderson So. Columbus, Neb. Columbus HS
Aubrey Baumann Fr. Chester, S.D. Sioux Falls Christian HS
Brooke Duerr Jr. Warren, Mich. Lutheran HS Northwest
Haleigh Fitzsimmons Jr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln Lutheran HS
Emma Gaffney Jr. Essex, Iowa Shenandoah HS
Kenna Holtzen Fr. Stromsburg, Neb. Cross County HS
Ella Kissinger-Coble Fr. Doniphan, Neb. Doniphan-Trumbull HS
Madison Koch So. Doniphan, Neb. Doniphan-Trumbull HS
Avery Lewis Fr. Seward, Neb. Seward HS
Lexi Mack Fr. Wilber, Neb. Wilber-Clatonia HS
Stephanie Mashuga Fr. Gibbon, Minn. Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop HS
Seanna Patterson Fr. Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln North Star HS
Katheryn Rice Fr. Bellevue, Neb. Cornerstone Christian HS
Jasmyne Terrell Fr. Milford, Neb. Milford HS
Lizbeth Vargas-Tapia So. Omaha, Neb. Omaha South HS
Maddie Wittstruck Fr. Milford, Neb. Milford HS

STAFF

Mandi Maser, Head Coach (6th Year)

Emilie Aschenbach, Assistant Coach

Season Preview: 2022 Concordia Competitive Dance

Jan. 13, 2022

Head Coach: Mandi Maser (6th year); 2020 GPAC Cheer Coach of the Year
2021 GPAC Finishes: Cheer 4th/7 | Dance 4th/9
2021 NAIA Northwest Finishes: Cheer 4th/7 | Dance 5th/10

Momentum continues to build for Concordia University Dance following a 2021 season of major gains. There’s a desire for even more in 2022 as the Bulldogs are well underway in their preparation for the upcoming competition season. According to those within the program, the talent and dedication on this roster have made the Bulldogs confident in making another step forward this winter.

Last season featured placements of second at both the Friends Day of Duals and the annual Concordia Invite. In addition, Concordia earned four dual wins over GPAC opponents and placed fourth in the GPAC and fifth in the NAIA Northwest Region. Head Coach Mandi Maser has a roster of athletes with a strong belief in themselves.

“It was about being transparent and explaining how scoring works and showing them on paper what it takes to elevate their competitive edge to get that score,” Maser said. “We wanted to make them understand that they had the skills. Now let’s execute them at a higher level with more dedication, more hours of practice and more strength training. That’s how you get to where you’re going to excel. They all decided they were going to do it. They all bought into it. It’s awesome to see everyone on board. They dedicate themselves more than any athletes I’ve ever coached. They’re devoted to it – and they have fun doing it.”

There will be plenty of familiarity on the roster as the Bulldogs welcome back six of the seven athletes who competed at the 2021 GPAC Championships/NAIA Northwest Qualifier. Maser has the utmost trust in veterans such as Katie Anderson (Columbus, Neb.) and Haleigh Fitzsimmons (Lincoln, Neb.), who have as much competition experience as anyone. Fitzsimmons has provided steady leadership and is well-respected by her teammates.

Other returners who competed at the regional championships last year include Kenna Holtzen, Avery Lewis, Lizbeth Vargas-Tapia and Maddie Wittstruck. Collectively, they helped Concordia post an average team score of 74.76 at the conference/regional qualifier. The Bulldogs were within striking distance of finishing as high as third place in the GPAC.

“We’re working on so many different skills that my freshman and sophomore year we never would have dreamed of,” Fitzsimmons said. “That’s always really exciting when we can do more advanced technical routines right out of the gate. We have some really cool tricks in our routine that I’ve never done before, that our coach introduced to us. Everyone’s been hitting it and pushing to get better at it. The routine’s looking pretty cool. We’re starting at a higher level of intensity and skillset than my entire time I’ve been here.”

Maser and assistant coach Emilie Aschenbach, a two-time cheer All-American at Midland, are appreciative of the efforts and attitudes they observe every day at practice. Team camaraderie is another essential piece in terms of building a program that can compete for championships.

Said Maser, “Haleigh is our leader but it’s a sisterhood of girls who are so supportive of each other all the time. From a technical skills perspective, Katie Anderson is excellent at everything she does. We have a new freshman who is also great at her technique. We have a great blend of hard-working athletes. They elevate each other to make a really solid team. They know it’s not an individual sport at all. They are there for each other all the time.”

Fitzsimmons wants to soak up her final season with Concordia Dance. She knows she’s going to miss it when it’s gone. “All the girls are amazing,” Fitzsimmons said. “They’re making this last year really hard to say goodbye to. They’re funny and they’re super smart and they care not just about their athletic performance, but their academic performance. They’re big inspirations for me. They make every time we go into the gym an awesome memory.”

The Bulldogs know the competition will be fierce. The spectacle and the skill level within the GPAC have ramped up. Within the conference, Concordia will have its sights set on the three teams that placed above it in 2021: Morningside, Midland and Doane.

Said Maser, “I feel like the GPAC sets a standard in the NAIA for an elite level of competitiveness. We’re also quite respectful of each other. Every single team that’s watching is cheering you on. We know it’s good for our sport to constantly build each other up. Not only do we want to preserve the sport, we want to keep drawing people into it. We have a tough conference. It’s really a challenge to compete in our own backyard.”

The season will officially kick off on Jan. 19 when the Bulldogs will host Morningside in a conference dual. The action is slated to begin at halftime of the women’s basketball game that night (tipoff at 6 p.m.) and take place inside Friedrich Arena. Concordia also looks forward to hosting its day of duals on Feb. 19 and competing at the GPAC/regional qualifier on Feb. 25-26.

Concordia launches competition season versus Morningside

Jan. 20, 2022

SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Dance team now has a starting point with which to build upon as it moves forward this winter. The Bulldogs got the competition season going on Wednesday (Jan. 19) by hosting GPAC rival Morningside in a dual that was contested at halftime of the women’s basketball game inside Friedrich Arena. The Mustangs emerged with the upper hand via a score of 74.85 compared to a score of 63.85 for Concordia.

This marks the sixth season that the Bulldog Cheer and Dance teams have been led by Mandi Maser. The two programs are looking for the type of improvement they displayed last winter. The dance squad returns a large number of experienced veterans, including one of the team’s most prominent leaders in Haleigh Fitzsimmons.

“Tonight we got the jitters out,” Maser said. “First competition of the season is out of the way and now we keep the momentum going to build on the routines we performed. The dance team performed with great energy and confidence. We had a couple deductions for errors that we can correct, but overall, I was proud of their performance, and I know they will keep getting better. They want to win, and I think the fans could see that tonight. We are looking forward increases scores next week and continuing to build on a great start to the season.”

The Concordia competition team on Wednesday 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.)

The season will continue next Wednesday (Jan. 26) when the Bulldogs will once again appear inside Friedrich Arena at halftime of women’s basketball (approximately 6:30 p.m. CT). Concordia will host Hastings and Peru State College as part of a triangular. The Bulldogs are slated to be in action three-straight days from Jan. 26-28.

Bulldogs claim second place while hosting Hastings, Peru State

Jan. 26, 2022

SEWARD, Neb. – For the second Wednesday night in a row, the Concordia University Dance team competed at halftime of the women’s basketball game played inside Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs turned in a nearly identical score as compared to last week and placed second behind Hastings and ahead of Peru State College. Concordia was solid in its team turns and leaps while learning where it has room to grow heading into the next two days of competition.

Triangular Scores
1. Hastings – 73.65
2. Concordia – 63.55
3. Peru State – 47.15

Head Coach Mandi Maser’s Bulldogs got the competition season started a week ago with a dual against Morningside. In that matchup, Concordia scored a 63.85 while the Mustangs posted a score of 74.85.

Said Maser, “We had a good night of competition tonight. On the dance side we had some mental errors that are unusual for this group of athletes and something we need to work harder on overcoming. The dancers performed with good energy and gave us a great show but scored team skills didn’t hit the way we need them to. As always, we keep working as a team and the scores will keep climbing.”

Through two competitions, the Bulldogs have trotted out the same eight athletes onto the floor. Katie Anderson and Haleigh Fitzsimmons have often earned high praise from Maser for their leadership.

The Concordia competition team on Wednesday 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.)

An active three-day stretch will continue on Thursday when the Bulldogs will be at Doane for a 7 p.m. CT triangular that will include College of Saint Mary. Concordia will also be in action on Friday at the Midland Invitational, which is slated to get underway at 7 p.m. Both competitions were added to the schedule to make up for the cancellation of the Concordia Invitational Tournament that was set to run this weekend.

Concordia finishes second at Doane, fifth at Midland

Jan. 28, 2022 

SEWARD, Neb. – A stretch of three-straight days with a competition continued on Thursday and Friday as the Concordia University Dance team ventured to the home sites of GPAC rivals Doane and Midland. The Bulldogs placed second in the triangular at Doane and then finished fifth out of six teams at the Midland Invitational. Head Coach Mandi Maser’s squad produced respective scores of 69.9 and 69.73 over the past two days.

Scores from triangular at Doane
1. Doane – 76.1
2. Concordia – 69.9
3. College of Saint Mary – 57.7

Midland Invite (Jan. 28)
5th place / 6 teams (69.73)

The scores turned in by Concordia over the past two days represented significant improvement from the first two competitions at home – 63.85 and 63.55. Maser made mention of Aubrey Baumann and Katie Anderson as standouts from this week’s outings.

Said Maser of Thursday’s performance, “Dance improved their scores by six points compared to the previous competition. They performed with confidence and improved on execution of the scored skills. The dancers have a lot of heart, and you can tell when they perform. Our freshman did a great job, especially Aubrey Baumann. She has a ton of talent and continues to impress us.”

Maser noted the following about Friday’s efforts, “Tonight we had a really tough competition. However, our athletes were resilient, prepared and competed well. The dance team was up against some very talented teams but didn’t let it affect them. Their focus was to improve their performance from the previous competition. We are really excited to continue to increase difficulty as soon as we are back in practice on Monday. Katie Anderson had another great competition today and continues to be a great leader for the team.”

The Concordia competition team on Thursday and Friday 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 will be the Bethel College Thresher Invite scheduled for Feb. 4-5 in North Newton, Kan. About the same time a year ago, Maser traveled the cheer and dance teams to Friends University in Wichita, Kan., for a unique duals competition.

Improvement on day two leads to sixth-place Bethel Invite finish

Feb. 5, 2022

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.

Bulldogs turn in season best score, place fifth at York Invite

Feb. 11, 2022

YORK, Neb. – The progress has been obvious in the scores for the Concordia University Competitive Dance team. In action on Friday (Feb. 11), the Bulldogs posted a total of 70.47 and placed fifth out of nine times at the York College Invitational. Head Coach Mandi Maser’s squad defeated the likes of York, Bethany College (Kan.), McPherson College (Kan.) and Mount Marty. Concordia was one of four GPAC teams present at the Freeman Center in York, Neb.

York Invite Results
5th place out of 9 teams (70.47)

Friday’s score bested the team’s previous season high of 69.9 achieved at the triangular at Doane on Jan. 27. At the York Invite, the Bulldogs were close behind Doane (71.23). The top three finishers were Oklahoma City University (84.70), Dordt (77.23) and Hastings (77.23).

Said Maser, “The dancers performed the best we have seen this season. In my opinion the score did not reveal how well they did, but that is how this sport works. Regardless, we had a great competition and continue to grow, improve and build this program. We are excited to be home next week hosting a competition and hope everyone comes out to cheer us on!”

The Concordia competition team on Friday 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.)

Competition scores in 2022
Jan. 19 – 63.85
Jan. 26 – 63.55
Jan. 27 – 69.9
Jan. 28 – 69.73
Feb. 4-5 – 55.9 | 61.72 | 61.38
Feb. 11 – 70.47

The Concordia University Competitive Cheer and Dance teams will now prepare to host their own event – the Concordia University Duals on Saturday, Feb. 19. The competition is set to begin at 10 a.m. CT from Friedrich Arena. At last season’s Concordia Cheer & Dance Invitational, the Bulldogs placed second in both the cheer and dance competitions.

Preview: 2022 Concordia Dance Duals

Feb. 15, 2022

SEWARD, Neb. – After hosting invitationals for each of the previous three seasons, the Concordia University Cheer and Dance programs will host their first-ever largescale dual competition when action gets underway on Saturday. The 2022 Concordia Cheer & Dance Duals will feature six cheer teams and five dance squads, all from NAIA institutions. Head Coach Mandi Maser’s programs will also celebrate six seniors at the conclusion of the competition.

Specific dual pairings can be viewed via the event program linked below. The Bulldogs will begin round one by going up against Dickinson State University (N.D.) in cheer and Missouri Baptist University in dance.

Event Info

Saturday, Feb. 19 – Concordia Cheer & Dance Duals
10 a.m. CT | Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network (pay-per-view)
Event Program (PDF)

Competing Teams
College of Saint Mary (dance only)
Concordia University
Dickinson State University (N.D.) (cheer only)
Doane University
Hastings College
Missouri Baptist University
Waldorf University (Iowa) (cheer only)

Below are the season results Maser’s squads have turned in so far this 2022 competition season. Both Concordia teams have been in action at six separate events. Most recently, the Bulldogs placed third in cheer and fifth in dance at the York College Invitational held last week. Previous home appearances came in conjunction with basketball games on Jan. 19 and 26. The standouts individually have included the likes of Brenden Ingram and Shelby Timmerman in cheer and Katie Anderson and Haleigh Fitzsimmons in dance.

2022 Cheer Results
1/19 – Morningside/Peru State Triangular – 1st (71.425)
1/26 – Hastings/Peru State Triangular – 1st (68.25)
1/27 – Dual at Doane – W (74.35)
1/28 – Midland Invite – 2nd/7 (72.90)
2/4-5 – Bethel Invite – 5th/11 (73.2)
2/11 – York Invite – 3rd/10 (75.9)

2022 Dance Results
1/19 – Dual vs. Morningside – L (63.85)
1/26 – Hastings/Peru State Triangular – 2nd (63.55)
1/27 – Doane/College of Saint Mary Triangular – 2nd (69.9)
1/28 – Midland Invite – 5th/6 (69.73)
2/4-5 – Bethel Invite – 6th/12 (61.7)
2/11 – York Invite – 5th/9 (70.47)

The following seniors will be recognized on Saturday:

·        BrookeAnn Duerr (Warren, Mich.)

·        Danielle Larsen (Omaha, Neb.)

·        Haleigh Fitzsimmons (Lincoln, Neb.)

·        Josie Oberdieck (Winona, Minn.)

·        Isabel Sermeno (Seward, Neb.)

·        Naomy Snider (McCool Junction, Neb.)

The Concordia Cheer & Dance Duals will lead into next week’s GPAC Championships (NAIA Regional Dance Qualifier) hosted by Doane. As part of the championship meet, dance will compete on Feb. 25 followed by cheer on Feb. 26. For teams that earn bids to nationals, the season will continue with the NAIA Cheer & Dance National Championships in Ypsilanti, Mich., on March 11-12.

Bulldogs place third in triangular, top CSM at Concordia Duals

Feb. 19, 2022

SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Competitive Cheer and Dance programs welcomed six cheer and five dance teams to the 2022 Concordia Cheer & Dance Duals hosted inside Friedrich Arena on Saturday (Feb. 19). Each of the squads went through two rounds of performances. As for the Bulldogs, they placed third in a triangular with Hastings and Missouri Baptist University and then won a dual over College of Saint Mary. Head Coach Mandi Maser’s team posted scores of 68.25 and 72.90 on the day.

On the dance side, the event also featured Doane. The top three place finishers in terms of overall combined scoring were Hastings (164.90), Doane (163.00) and Missouri Baptist (159.70). Concordia’s score of 72.90 represented a season best total, eclipsing the 70.47 that it recorded last week at the York College Invitational.

Said Maser, “The dancers continue to work hard for every point they get and focus so much on their technical skills to improve each week. I think they performed their best thus far today. I could see their love of dance through their performance. We look forward to the competition at the GPAC Championships and Regional Qualifier next week!”

The Concordia competition team on 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.)

Competition scores in 2022
Jan. 19 – 63.85
Jan. 26 – 63.55
Jan. 27 – 69.9
Jan. 28 – 69.73
Feb. 4-5 – 55.9 | 61.72 | 61.38
Feb. 11 – 70.47
Feb. 19 – 68.25 | 72.90

Following the competitions, the Bulldogs recognized six cheer/dance seniors: BrookeAnne Duerr, Danielle Larsen, Haleigh Fitzsimmons, Josie Oberdieck, Isabel Sermeno and Naomy Snider.

Next up on the schedule is the 2022 GPAC Dance Championships/NAIA Regional Qualifier slated for next Friday (Feb. 25). The event will be hosted by Doane and is set to begin at 3 p.m. CT. Last season, the Bulldogs placed fourth in the GPAC and fifth in the Northwest region.

Competition Info: 2022 GPAC Dance Championship/NAIA Northwest Qualifier

Feb. 22, 2022

SEWARD, Neb. – It’s championship week for the Concordia University Competitive Cheer and Dance teams. The 2022 GPAC Championship competition (also a group qualifier for dance) will unfold on Friday for dance and on Saturday for cheer. Doane will serve as the host once again with action taking place inside the Haddix Center. Additional details can be found below.

2022 GPAC Dance Championship/NAIA Northwest Qualifier
Friday, Feb. 25 | 3 p.m. | Haddix Center (Doane campus)
Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/user/doaneathletics/live2

Event Schedule
-Performance times:
3:00 p.m. – Northwestern
3:11 p.m. – Concordia
3:22 p.m. – College of Saint Mary
3:33 p.m. – Mount Marty
3:44 p.m. – Viterbo
3:55 p.m. – Morningside
4:06 p.m. – Doane
4:17 p.m. – Hastings
4:28 p.m. – Dordt
4:39 p.m. – Midland

5:54 p.m. – finals begin (order based on preliminary scores)
7:45 p.m. – NAIA All-American auditions
8:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony

Leading up to the championship competition, Head Coach Mandi Maser’s dance squad has competed in seven separate events (10 total performances). Led by the likes of Katie Anderson and Haleigh Fitzsimmons, the Bulldogs posted a season high score of 72.90 in the most recent performance, which occurred at the Concordia Cheer & Dance Duals on Feb. 19. According to the NAIA’s official scoring database, Concordia currently ranks 30th nationally with an average score of 65.82. Among GPAC teams, the Bulldogs rank sixth behind Morningside (82.12), Midland (81.32), Doane (78.54), Hastings (75.52) and Dordt (71.10). The 10 total performances by Concordia are the most of any dance team in the nation.

Competition scores in 2022
Jan. 19 – 63.85
Jan. 26 – 63.55
Jan. 27 – 69.9
Jan. 28 – 69.73
Feb. 4-5 – 55.9 | 61.72 | 61.38
Feb. 11 – 70.47
Feb. 19 – 68.25 | 72.90

At the 2021 GPAC Championship/NAIA Northwest Qualifier, the Bulldogs placed fifth with an average score of 74.76, putting them behind Morningside (90.92), Midland (89.38), Viterbo (76.45) and Doane (74.88).

For those who qualify, the 2022 season will continue at the sixth annual Competitive Cheer and Dance National Championship, scheduled for March 11-12 in Ypsilanti, Mich.

Bulldogs finish 2022 season with seventh-place finish at NAIA Qualifier

Feb. 26, 2022

CRETE, Neb. – The 2022 season concluded on Friday (Feb. 25) for the Concordia University Competitive Dance team. The Bulldogs produced a total score of 67.99 and placed seventh out of 10 teams at the 2022 GPAC Dance Championship/NAIA Northwest Qualifier held in Crete, Neb., on the Doane campus. Concordia finished sixth among the nine GPAC teams at the event, which also included Viterbo University (Wis.).

Head Coach Mandi Maser’s competed at eight separate events throughout the season and performed a total of 12 times in 2022. The team’s highest score of 70.47 was achieved at the York College Invitational on Feb. 11. On Friday, the Bulldogs earned a score of 66.87 in the preliminary round and then 68.37 in the final round. The prelims performance was weighted as 25 percent and the finals performance as 75 percent of the final total score.

Said Maser, “The Bulldog Dance team performed both rounds very well tonight! Katie Anderson was once again our standout performer and received honorable mention GPAC All-Conference honors. We also had a great performance from Haleigh Fitzsimmons, our graduating senior. She has been a great leader for this team the past four years and that culminated tonight. The dancers met the challenge proposed to them to take their first score and increase it in the final round. They are a dynamic, dedicated group of dancers and we are so proud of how much they grew this season! We are already planning next season with each of these athletes involved in the conversation. They are building a program to be proud of and they perfectly represent Concordia. I am blessed to coach such an amazing group of young adults and we all look forward to next season!”

The Concordia competition team on Friday 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.)

Below is the complete list of scores the Bulldogs have achieved in 2022. As part of the campaign, Concordia hosted two home competitions that coincided with basketball games and put on the Concordia Cheer & Dance Duals. Two of the team’s leaders all season were upperclassmen Katie Anderson and Haleigh Fitzsimmons.

Competition scores in 2022
Jan. 19 – 63.85
Jan. 26 – 63.55
Jan. 27 – 69.9
Jan. 28 – 69.73
Feb. 4-5 – 55.9 | 61.72 | 61.38
Feb. 11 – 70.47
Feb. 19 – 68.25 | 72.90
Feb. 25 – 66.87 | 68.37

The NAIA will host its fifth annual Cheer and Dance National Championship in Ypsilanti, Mich., on March 11-12. Qualifiers will be announced next week.

Anderson earns Honorable Mention All-GPAC for second time

Mar. 1, 2022

SEWARD, Neb. – For the second time in three seasons, Katie Anderson has represented the Concordia University Competitive Dance team with Honorable Mention All-GPAC accolades. Anderson was one of 19 GPAC dance athletes to be recognized with some form of all-conference honors, as announced by the league on Tuesday (March 1).

Anderson, a native of Columbus, Neb., was frequently lauded by Head Coach Mandi Maser following competitions. Maser referred to Anderson as a “standout performer” following last week’s GPAC Dance Championship/NAIA Northwest Qualifier in Crete, Neb. Anderson also collected honorable mention all-conference accolades in 2020.

Anderson and the Bulldogs placed seventh at the NAIA Qualifier with a total score of 67.99. The team’s season high score of 72.90 was achieved at the Concordia Cheer & Dance Duals on Feb. 19. Throughout the 2022 season, the Bulldogs competed at eight events and in 12 total performances.