SEWARD, Neb. – In a tight competition at the top, the Concordia University Competitive Dance team made a run at a title while in action at the Dordt Invite on Saturday (Feb. 18). The Bulldogs turned in a score of 84.23 and placed fourth, just behind Viterbo (85.96), Morningside (84.93) and St. Ambrose (84.53). The competition marked the eighth outing of the 2023 season.
Head Coach Mandi Maser’s squad was coming off dual wins last week as part of its own Concordia Day of Duals. The Bulldogs currently stand 12th nationally in terms of scoring average.
“The dancers are so much fun,” Maser said. “They perform their best every time and we just the love the ride we are on. They changed up the routine this week to increase difficulty and they really came to show how good they can be when they perform at their highest level.”
The Dordt Invite featured mostly GPAC schools, in addition to St. Ambrose and Viterbo. Concordia took the floor just after noon in a competition that included nine teams for dance and six for cheer. The Bulldogs’ score of 84.23 was just off the school record figure of 85.9 recorded earlier this season in a dual with Morningside. Out of the eight competitions Concordia has had that have counted towards the official NAIA reporting system, it has scored above 80 six times.
Concordia competition roster
· Aubrey Baumann (Chester, S.D.)
· Katie Birtell (Columbus, Neb.)
· Ryleigh Flesner (Greeley, Colo.)
· Taylor Larsen (Ravenna, Neb.)
· Avery Lewis (Seward, Neb.)
· Elise O’Neill (North Platte, Neb.)
· Maddie Wittstruck (Milford, Neb.)
2023 Competition Scores/Results
1/11 – 80.55 (dual vs. College of Saint Mary)
1/19 – 85.9 (dual vs. Morningside)
1/25 – 83.1 (triangular vs. Hastings/Mount Marty)
1/28 – 1st place (CIT)
2/3 – 78.97 (3rd place at Doane Invite)
2/10 – 80.33 (T-4th place at York Crown Classic)
2/11 – 79 / 82.95 (duals vs. Northwestern/William Penn)
2/18 – 84.23 (4th place at Dordt Invite)
Next up will be the GPAC Championships/NAIA Regional Qualifier set for next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 24-25) at Doane. At last season’s championships/qualifier, the Bulldogs placed seventh out of 11 teams with a total score of 67.99.