SEWARD, Neb. – The young Bulldogs are making progress with each competition. While performing at home as part of the Concordia Cheer & Dance Invitational, Concordia University, Nebraska Competitive Cheer turned in a season best effort and placed third out of eight teams. The Bulldogs’ score of 77.0 placed it behind only Northwestern (83.37) and Mount Marty (78.18).
Head Coach Emilie Ashenbach’s squad has improved each score in each successive outing since beginning the 2026 campaign at the Dordt Invite on Jan. 24.
“It was a great day for us at our home invite,” Ashenbach said. “The team went out there and absolutely delivered. I’m so proud of the way they performed and showcased a strong, confident routine on our home court. Our goal today was simple: improve from last night, and they did exactly that. They cleaned things up, performed with more confidence and really embraced the moment. This group continues to embody our mindset.”
As it did on Friday at the York Crown Classic, Concordia put eight individuals on the mat. The crew featured five freshmen, two sophomores and one senior. The Bulldogs have increased their score more than 25 points compared to the season opener. The 77.0 marked an improvement of nearly 10 points from Friday night.
In the latest outing, Concordia defeated the likes of GPAC opponents in Midland (75.87), Dordt (72.33) and Waldorf (55.22).
Added Ashenbach, “Competing at home in front of the Bulldog Family made it even more special. We’re proud of the progress, grateful for the support and excited to keep building as the season continues.”
Concordia Invite Competition Roster
· Ella Bradley (De Soto, Mo.)
· Giavanna Doyle (Curtis, Neb.)
· Sarah Felten (Sterling Heights, Mich.)
· Karmen Fitch (Lincoln, Neb.)
· Ara Maxwell (Lincoln, Neb.)
· Adelyn Opp (Lincoln, Neb.)
· Brinkly Sallach (Red Oak, Iowa)
· Sophia Schneider (Wichita, Kan.)
2026 Competitions
Jan. 24 – Placed 8th/8 (51.8) at Dordt Invite
Jan. 30 – Placed 7th/7 (60.16) at KWU Classic
Feb. 6 – Placed 8th/12 (67.85) at York Crown Classic
Feb. 7 – Placed 3rd/8 (77.00) at Concordia Invite
Next weekend, the Bulldogs will be headed to an opposing GPAC institution as the Northwestern Cheer & Dance Invitational takes place Feb. 13-14 in Orange City, Iowa. Action is scheduled for Friday afternoon and Saturday morning at the Bultman Center.