Kansas Spirit Squad Places 13th at UCA/UDA College National Championship

Jan. 17, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Kansas Cheer Squad placed 13^th at the UCA/UDA College National Championship in Orlando, Fla. The cheerleaders and Rock Chalk Dancers competed against the top teams in the country, improving six places from their finish last year. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

A total of 16 teams competed in the cheer finals and KU’s finish marks the team’s best result at the competition since switching from NCA to UCA in 2000. The group nearly completed a perfect routine in the finals until they had some technical difficulties executing a pyramid.

“Corey and Nami Stone did an outstanding job preparing the squad to compete,” Spirit Squad Coordinator Catherine Jarzemkoski said.

Elizabeth Bellinger and Adam Harley competed Friday night in the Coed Partner Stunt Friday night, finishing 13^th among 20 couples from across the country.

The Rock Chalk Dancers competed in the Hip Hop and Jazz categories. Under the direction of dance team coach Tasha Ruble, the team made it into the finals in both categories, finishing eighth in Hip Hop and 12th in Jazz of the 18 teams competing.

Results and photos from the event http://www.varsity.com/index.asp?article=2736

The Spirit Squad also found success in the classroom, posting impressive overall GPAs:

Dance Team: 3.23

Cheer Team: 2.73

Mascot Team: 3.26