BLINN CHEER/DANCE TEAMS WIN NATIONAL TITLES

Cheerleaders achieve a three-peat while dance wins title in Pom Division II

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Blinn College cheer and dance teams both brought back national titles for the third consecutive year at the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championships Friday, April 8, in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Blinn cheer team earned its third consecutive national championship in the Small Coed Cheer Division II national competition with a score of 96.65 in the finals, more than two points more than second-place University of Central Oklahoma (94.6). Cheer placed first after preliminaries with a score of 95.95.

“This was basically a dream-come-true performance for us,” said Michael Brewster, assistant dance and cheer coach. “Overall, we set goals at the beginning of the year and achieved those goals at nationals.”

The Blinn Treasures dance team earned a national title in Pom Division II with a score of 9.403 in the finals, beating out second place Newberry (S.C.) College, which scored an 8.84. The Pom Division is new to the NDA this year and Blinn is the first-ever national champion in that division.

The dance team came close to winning two national titles, as it placed second in the Team Performance III Division with a score of 9.383, just below national champion Shobi (Japan) University (9.473).

“I thought the dance team did amazing in both competitions,” said Sarah Barland-Flisowski, spirit coordinator. “The team had to come back and compete in the Pom Division an hour after placing second in the Team Performance and did a great job of regrouping.”

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 34 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.