The St. Ambrose dance team is back on top, earning a national championship and reclaiming the title this season. After winning three straight national titles, the team fell just short of a fourth championship last year with a runner-up finish. Determined to earn their spot back on top, they spend months refining their routine, overcoming injuries, and focusing on the small details that could make the difference.
Senior Maggie Schreiber, a master’s student in exercise physiology, says the moment they realized they had won was unforgettable.
“Once we heard the second-place team get announced and we knew we won, it was almost a sigh of relief knowing that all of the hard work we had put in paid off,” she says. “I was just so proud to be a part of a team that worked so hard to make that happen.”
She says the win carries extra meaning after the challenges many dancers face throughout the season
“Two years ago, I tore my ACL and was honestly not sure if I would be able to dance again, let alone be on the nationals floor with my team. A lot of us have been through injuries that could take other athletes out, but these girls push through because of the fight for the win.”
Junior human performance and fitness major Shea Denahy says the team faces a season filled with adjustments and adversity.
“The biggest difference this year was the new rubric for dance in the NAIA. This made many of our rules and requirements change, and it was very difficult to adapt to. We took the judges’ feedback after every competition and would use it to make the routine better.”
Despite those obstacles, Denahy says the team stays united and focused on their goal.
“It meant the world to reclaim that title. After taking second last year by a small margin, all of my teammates were ready to come in and do everything we could for that title.”
Senior occupational therapy major Sara Gundacker says shes most proud of the teams growth this year
“The whole team came to practice every day with fight and determination. This team’s consistency throughout the season helped bring that title back to St. Ambrose.”
Looking ahead, she emphasizes the importance of carrying that mindset forward.The St. Ambrose dance team reclaimed its national championship title after falling just short the previous year, driven by months of intense preparation and attention to detail.
“My message for the future dancers would be to give it your all and a placement does not define you. If you are proud of the work you’ve done, then you have won” says Gundacker.
She hopes the program continues to build on its culture of effort, resilience, and teamwork.
The victory clearly stands as a testament to resilience and reflects the St. Ambrose dance team’s determination, perseverance, and ability to overcome challenges on their way to the national title. The championship weekend also shows the strength of St. Ambrose’s spirit programs. Competing on the same national stage, the St. Ambrose cheer team also delivers a strong performance. After winning three consecutive NAIA national championships in previous years, the cheer team narrowly misses another title this season.
Freshman marketing and public relations major Grace Sayavongsa says the cheer team shows resilience throughout a season filled with constant adjustments due to injuries and illness.
“This season our team was extremely resilient. We performed a different routine every single weekend in order to adapt,” she says. “By the end of the week, we always managed to go out there and make it work, which is not as easy as it sounds.”
Sayavongsa says the team faces an added challenge heading into nationals, with limited time to prepare after a last minute injury.
“This year we had two weeks to work on our nationals routine, but a last-minute injury gave us only three days,” she says. “So to go out there and hit, even just once, is an achievement in itself.”
She adds that the team comes together when it matters most.
Together, both teams continue to represent the resilience and determination that define St. Ambrose’s spirit programs. With one team reclaiming a national title and the other already motivated for a comeback, the future remains bright for St. Ambrose on the national stage.
