The Wake

In 2002 Gophers fans cheered as the Minnesota’s wrestling team successfully defended its 2001 national title.

Last April, Dinkytown was once again swarming with fans after the men’s hockey team accomplished a repeat when they defeated New Hampshire in the national championship.

Gopher fans might have another two-peat champ to cheer for, or cheer with, if the top-ranked U of M dance team pulls off another title in Orlando this January.

Yes, the women’s dance team, the ladies who bust a move on the Williams Arena floor during Gophers’ hoop games and cut-a-rug on the Metrodome carpet during football games, are looking to defend their own 2003 title they earned last year at the College National Dance Championship.

Some people might only think of the 17-member dance team as great entertainment during game breaks and as cheerleaders when the game is on the line. And though every member of the squad takes their role as cheering support for the athletic teams seriously, they are just as serious about competing to be the best dance team in the country.

Last January, the Gophers won their first national dance competition at the Universal Dance Association (UDA) Collegiate Championship after a string of seasons falling just short of the title.

“It was amazing to have worked so hard and to win it all last year,” said senior Autumn Prois. “We had come so close in the years before, but we were so happy to bring back a championship.”

In order to enter the UDA Championship, each team videotapes their best routine and sends it to UDA judges. The judges then select 27 teams for the quarterfinal competition and five teams gain automatic bids to the finals.

This year, like last year, the Gophers were good enough to gain an automatic bid.

“The final bid is awesome because it’s a paid bid where you get to go to Orlando for free,” said senior Sara Schmid.

The Gophers will take their No. 1 ranking to Orlando on January 18 and hopes to once again beat out rival Wisconsin, who also received a finals bid.

“Madison is always right behind us,” Schmid said. “They got second at our summer camp competition. They were ranked second going into the championships and they placed right behind when we won last year. The competition between our teams is cutthroat.”

Before the dance team heads to Florida, they will go to Texas perform at the football team’s bowl game.

The Gophers football squad will most likely play in the Alamo Bowl or Sun Bowl.

“I don’t care which one we perform in,” Schmid said. “I’m just glad we get to go to Texas during winter break.”

If you go to a Gopher basketball game before January 18 or you trek down to Texas to cheer on the football squad, make sure to cheer for the dance team. They might just be Minnesota’s next repeat champions.