The Wake

When Amber Struzyk was a freshman on the University of Minnesota Dance team, she witnessed the end of a historical run of nine straight championships by the University of Memphis dance squad. Struzyk, now in her third season as dance coach for the Gophers, hopes her team can make its own mark in the history books. So far, things are going according to plan.

The team took first place in the College Dance Division for the second consecutive year and became the first division I-A team in the last decade to win back-to-back national championships. An impressive feat, especially when you consider the team had seven newcomers, including six freshmen.

“The rookies were excited and wanted to win, and the vets were hungry and wanted to defend,” Struzyk said. “Throughout the entire year there was a ton of pressure, but this team has competitors, and that’s why they do as good as they do.”

Struzyk realizes that pressure comes with winning, and it’s very hard to stay on top after you win a championship, especially with the changes each team makes every year. But leadership and experience from dancers like two-year captain Lindsay Johnson help the rookies along, making the transition from high school to college competition much easier.

Johnson experienced the team’s improvement and growth from seventh place in her first year, fourth place sophomore year and first the last two years. When comparing the sweetness of both championships, Johnson has no doubts

“Definitely the second one because to do it two years in a row is awesome, but then 30 seconds later. we heard how it was the first time in ten years to have a repeat,” Johnson said.

The magnitude of the competition is so great because the dancers know that if they do one thing wrong in their routine, the competition could be lost. This extreme pressure is something new for the rookies who never faced such a high-level of competition with their high-school teams.

The reputation of the squad, and the fact that they won the championship last year, made freshman Gina Becchetti even more excited to try out for this year’s team. She credits much of the team’s success to the family-like atmosphere and support the rookies receive from the older dancers.

“To work so hard at something for five or six months and to put your heart and soul into it every day working your butt off and to win, it’s a great feeling,” Becchetti said. “I can’t describe it - it kind of takes your breath away.”

As a freshman, Struzyk saw the end of a dancing dynasty and, now, as head coach, she hopes it’s only the beginning for the back-to-back national champion Gopher squad.