NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The Gannon competitive cheer team opened its 2015 season this weekend with a first-place finish at the Battle at the Capitol All-Star Dance & Collegiate Championships in National Harbor, Maryland. This weekend's championship earned the Lady Knights the right to compete in the U.S. Finals.
Head coach
Meghan Foran's squad captured the team title in the Elite Division 2 All-Girl Collegiate Cheer Division with 91.13 points. Shepherd University (90.58) and Widener University (86.33) were the next two programs behind the Lady Knights.
Gannon finished fourth overall among all teams, including NCAA Division I and IA programs. In only their second year of competition, the Lady Knights were close to programs with long-standing traditions such as Morgan State and Western Ontario. They also finished ahead of NCAA Division I Virginia Tech's co-ed squad.
Two of the three judge cards gave Gannon the highest total score among teams in the Elite Division 2 All-Girl Collegiate Cheer Division. The Lady Knights dominated the last section of scoring for dance, overall impression/performance and routine creativity.
Gannon opened with the top score in seven of the nine categories for stunts, pyramids and tosses. The Lady Knights followed with the best score in five of the six jumps and tumbling categories.
A national quarterfinalist during its inaugural season in 2014, Gannon returns to action Saturday, February 7 at the JDRF Cheer for a Cure in Niagara Falls, New York.
