DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Roosevelt's dance program captured the first national title in program history Saturday in the hip hop division of the National Dance Association College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The Lakers proved in Friday's preliminaries that they were poised to improve upon the third-place finishes from the last two years. Roosevelt led by more than five points after that first round of dancing, and the lead only grew in Saturday's final. The Lakers improved their raw score by more than 0.5 points in the final to create a nearly one-point bump in the event score to capture the title.
Saturday's title came on the heels of Roosevelt's previous best finish in program history in the team competition on Friday. The Lakers held a slim edge after the preliminary rounds Thursday, but finished less than half a point behind the champions in second place. However, the Lakers did put more than three points between them and third place for the strongest performances in program history.
"Back in the spring of 2020, I was given the honor of starting the cheer and dance programs at Roosevelt. At the time, with over a decade of college coaching experience, seeing a collegiate dance team in Chicago win a national title felt like a dream—one I wasn't sure I'd witness in my own career," spirit coordinator and Roosevelt dance coach Lindsay Jones said. "But I was determined to build something strong, something lasting. With only six returners this season, our team rose to the challenge—welcoming new members, building mental and physical grit, and keeping each other grounded in our mission. Our goal was never just to win—it was to get better every day. 'Progress over perfection' was our mantra. If just one detail improved each run, that was a win in itself.
"This achievement wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of our athletic administration, the creativity and vision of our choreographer, Kenzie Sherry, and the dedication of my coaching staff. I'm so proud of this team and so excited to take on a new chapter as we enter NCAA DII next season."
