SAU Dance Team wins fifth NAIA Championship

Courtesy of St. Ambrose Sports Information Department

The SAU Dance Team made history by claiming its fifth Red Banner after winning the 10th Annual Nfinity NAIA Competitive Dance National Championships in Topeka, Kan., Saturday.

St. Ambrose led from the start, posting a preliminary-round score of 92.98 to top the 12-team field. The lead was just 0.35 over second-place Midland (92.63) with Viterbo (91.53) lurking in third entering Saturday's final rounds at the Stormont Vail Events Center.

The top three remained bunched through the end, ultimately separated by less than 0.33 points.

SAU finished with an overall total of 93.37 to narrowly out-distance Midland, who finished second with a 93.10. Viterbo took third with an overall score of 93.04. Grand View (90.01) ended fourth.

Led by head coach Laurel Ritter, team members were Maddy Barnes, Lilly Bonnet, Shea Denahy, Morgan Ford, Sophia Garcia, Sara Gundacker, Grace Harms, Torrin Heritage, Madelyn Hohe, Hadley Irwin, Karsyn Kuffler, Josephine Lai, Karli Langley, Brooklyn McBride, Evie Miller, Sydnie Offermann, Emma Schoonover, Maggie Schreiber and Kyla Shaw.

The 93.37 total was the second-highest score in championship history. The 2023 St. Ambrose team recorded a total of 93.40.

This was SAU's third National Title in the last four years and fifth Championship overall (2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2026), the most in NAIA Dance history. The Bees finished second to Midland last year by just 0.16 points.