DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Manhattan's dance team has made its mark in the world of collegiate dance by earning a remarkable sixth place in the highly competitive NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship.
This impressive achievement highlights the team's unwavering dedication to their craft and cements their position as a top-tier dance team in the collegiate circuit.
With over 6,200 participants and 5,350 annual spectators, the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship is the country's biggest college cheerleading and dance event, and it's projected to continue growing.
"The competition is extremely talented in Division 1. We compete against schools significantly bigger than ours," said coach Elizabeth Henrich, reflecting on the team's strong performance. "We never let our size deter us. We always stay true to ourselves and the legacy of the Jasper Dancers!"
Not only did the team have an impressive outing, but they were also backed by the largest crowd in Manhattan College history, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for dance and cheer on campus. Despite being a smaller school, the Jasper supporters made their presence felt and held their own against larger schools like the University of Louisville and Utah Valley University at the Daytona, FL competition.
Coach Taylor Post expressed how much the team values the unwavering commitment of their supporters after the competition.
"Not only are we grateful for them supporting us by showing up, we would never be able to make it to nationals financially without their support. The team works tirelessly to fundraise their way to Daytona, and their supporters help make that possible," she said.
The team's dedication and sacrifices leading up to nationals were evident in their performance on stage, earning them a 91.4 event score, only 3.8 points away from first.
"We are so proud of the routines we presented. From the beginning, we said they would be something different and be remembered. The team came in 6th overall in D1 Hip Hop, and we could not be happier! We can't wait for next year!" said Henrich.
