KU SPIRIT SQUAD ROCKS AT UCA/UDA NATIONALS

Jan. 20, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Kansas Cheer and Rock Chalk Dancers returned from last weekend’s UCA/UDA College National Championships with a fifth-place finish for dance and a second-place finish for Coed cheer. Performed in Orlando, Fla., KU’s routines were performed with tremendous energy and flawless, according to KU Spirit Squad Coordinator, Cat Jarzemkoski.

The dance team went into the competition in 21st place after video entries and climbed rapidly to fifth after semi-finals on Saturday. On Sunday, KU had the luck of the draw with performing first in finals. All rose to the occasion to set the bar for the other teams to compete against. The crowd was feverish with excitement after their performance according to Jarzemkoski.

The cheer team overcame a blow two days before leaving with learning that two of their team members could not participate. In hearing this – their routine had to be changed Jarzemkoski said. Both teams had been practicing their set routines since October. KU Cheer welcomed the challenge and proved again, it’s not over until the buzzer sounds. They went into the competition with a 14.3 crowd score. Their routine was filled with stunts, pyramids and tumbling along with a Rock Chalk Jayhawk chant. Congrats to Corey & Nami Stone with their coaching of the cheer team and to Tasha Ruble and Catie Mullen with dance.

This is the first time that a KU dance team has placed in the top five in two consecutive years since 1997. The cheer squad has not placed in the top 5 since 1997.