Baker University’s cheer and dance squads competed at the National Cheerleading Association’s national dance and cheer competition April 5-9 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Neither team made the finals but members of both said they felt they had good showings at the event.
“We competed against a lot of schools who were very, very good,” sophomore cheerleader Allyssa King said. “Also, most of the schools we competed against were a lot bigger than Baker. I think we performed really well, we will just work harder to make the finals next year.”
Sophomore dance team member Michelle Watts felt like her team held their own against the bigger schools they faced.
“We worked very hard to give our best performance at nationals,” Watts said. “And I think that’s exactly what we did. Every person on our team gave it all they had. We didn’t place, but I don’t think we have anything to be disappointed about because we gave our best performance of the year on our biggest stage of the year.”
Freshman Katelyn Potteiger agreed with her teammate.
“The work we put into our routine showed at nationals,” Potteiger said. “It was definitely our best performance of the year. Our girls should be proud of the way we competed.”
The cheerleading squad overcame many obstacles and changes throughout the year, King said.
“We pushed through a lot of adversity during the year,” King said. “We lost a lot of girls and had to make several adjustments to our routine, which made it tough.”
The cheerleading squad also added two men, freshmen Chad Cross and Justin Lake, to the squad late in the year to help them with stunts at nationals.
“Chad and Justin were great,” King said. “Along with (junior) Travis Viehweg and (sophomore) Jeremy Webb, they were a huge help to our squad.”
The two teams spent many countless hours perfecting their routines for nationals, but said they felt every minute was worth it.
“The last few weeks before nationals, everyone was extremely focused and our routine improved so much,” King said.
Watts said she felt the same away about her team.
“Our dance got better every time we performed,” Watts said. “The last few weeks of practice were critical for our routine.”
Members of Baker’s dance team are freshmen Stephanie Allen, Ashley Houchin, Kate Hess, Mandy King, Kendra Morrison and Potteiger, sophomores Erin Edwards and Lindsay Friesen and juniors Susan Chandler, Danielle Dunham and Watts.
Members of Baker’s cheer squad include freshmen Jordann Johnson, Brittany Lob, Darcy Nance, Sydney Raskin, Kala Scott, Alison Werle, Chad Cross and Justin Lake, sophomores Dominique Adkins, Jessica Dillon, Lauren Gilges, King and Jeremy Webb, juniors Jessie Armstrong, Emilie Laky and Travis Viehweg and seniors Pam Lasley, Marlena Richardson and Lindsey White.