SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Cheer and Dance programs are gearing up to host the third annual Concordia Cheer & Dance Invitational. The 2021 edition of the event will unfold on Saturday when nine different institutions will be represented in competition that will take place inside Friedrich Arena. The dance competition will begin at 10 a.m. CT followed by cheer at approximately 11:20 a.m. (see order of teams below).
The entirety of the Concordia Cheer & Dance Invite will be streamed live via the Concordia Sports Network (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/cun/). Following the invite, Concordia will also hold GPAC all-conference performances in the PE Center. Those performances will be streamed live via the Concordia Cheer and Dance Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/cunecheerdance).
Head Coach Mandi Maser’s teams have competed in four events for dance and three for cheer since the competition season began on Jan. 13. The results have been promising. The dance team has won duals over Mount Marty and College of Saint Mary and earned the runner-up trophy at the Friends University Day of Duals. Meanwhile, the cheer squad has collected dual wins over Mount Marty and Morningside and placed third at the Friends Day of Duals.
Junior Josie O’Laughlin and senior Cora Rhode serve as the captains of the cheer team while junior Haleigh Fitzsimmons and senior Michelle Porath lead the dance squad. As part of Saturday’s event, the Bulldogs will honor three seniors: Kaci Hohenthaner, Lanessa Kerner and Cora Rhode.
Out of the field of teams that will be on hand on Saturday, all but Peru State College are GPAC members. Concordia hopes to improve upon last year’s finishes at its own invite – fourth in cheer and sixth in dance.
Dance order – 10 a.m.
1. Mount Marty
2. Northwestern
3. Doane
4. Midland
5. Hastings
6. Concordia
7. College of Saint Mary
8. Peru State
9. Dordt
Cheer order – approximately 11:20 a.m.
1. Peru State
2. Mount Marty
3. Northwestern
4. Concordia
5. Doane
6. Midland
7. Hastings
Both Bulldog teams will also be in action next Wednesday (Feb. 10) when they will host Hastings in dance and Hastings/Peru State in cheer. Those competitions will take place in conjunction with basketball that evening.