SEWARD, Neb. – It was the most thrilling weekend to date in the history of Concordia University, Nebraska Competitive Dance. Less than 24 hours after celebrating a championship at the York Crown Classic, the Bulldogs rang the bell while signaling a first-place finish at Saturday (Feb. 7)’s Concordia Cheer & Dance Invitational. Concordia shattered the school record with a score of 93.33, allowing it to knock off defending national champion Midland for the championship trophy.
Head Coach Mandy Maser’s squad has placed third or better in each of its four invitational competitions this 2026 season. There were plenty of emotional hugs combined with tears of joy early on Saturday afternoon.
“The win belongs to every athlete on the floor and every voice in the stands,” Maser said. “Bulldog Dance showed up, showed out and made it ours.”
The group of 10 Bulldogs who took the dance floor inside Friedrich Arena put together the finest performance in school history in a high-level competition. Each of the top three place finishers scored better than an 89.5 as Concordia was followed in the team standings by Midland (92.16) and Dordt (89.58). The Bulldogs also defeated GPAC foes in Northwestern (71.25), College of Saint Mary (71.16) and Briar Cliff (70.0).
Senior captains Taylor Larsen and Elise O’Neill provided their thoughts on the triumphant weekend following the Concordia Invite.
Said Larsen, “It just feels like such a full-circle moment with four years of hard work,” Larsen said. “It came to a head today. I can’t really believe it yet. It doesn’t really feel real.” Added O’Neill, “We’re all super grateful. Coming off our win yesterday, we all had a grateful heart in the way that God is using us this season in a way He hasn’t done before. We’re really joyful. We just had fun, and we’re all there for each other. That’s kind of how I feel walking off the floor.”
Prior to Saturday, the school record score was 87.7 achieved at the Kansas Wesleyan Coyote Classic on Jan. 30. The Bulldogs have scored an 83.66 or better in each of their five routines this season. Their winning score at York on Friday came in at 87.33.
Concordia Invite Competition Roster
· Hanna Bitner (Valentine, Neb.)
· Alexis Carlen (Staunton, Ill.)
· Brynley Cooper (Lincoln, Neb.)
· Sienna Kelly (Lincoln, Neb.)
· Taylor Larsen (Ravenna, Neb.)
· Elise O’Neill (North Platte, Neb.)
· Cameron Ottersberg (Pawnee City, Neb.)
· Biance Romshek (Bellwood, Neb.)
· Addison Sample (Pleasant Dale, Neb.)
· Lana Tillman (Battle Creek, Neb.)
2026 Competitions
Jan. 21 – Def. CSM in dual (83.66)
Jan. 24 – Placed 3rd/8 (85.21) at Dordt Invite
Jan. 30 – Placed 3rd/9 (87.7) at KWU Classic
Feb. 6 – Placed 1st/14 (87.33) at York Crown Classic
Feb. 7 – Placed 1st/8 (93.33) 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.