The Gannon University competitive cheer and dance teams will return to action on Saturday after a strong opening to the season last weekend.

The Golden Knights will take a trip south on Interstate 79 for the Red Hot Cheer and Dance Competition at Slippery Rock University.


Coach Kerri Makay's team is coming off a strong season-opening performance last week. The Golden Knights turned in first-place performances at the Spirit Against Cancer Competition, hosted by Penn State Behrend, on Saturday, Feb. 11.

They finished first in the final standings in Co-ed Cheer (82.33 out of 90 total points), Game Day Cheer (96.66 out of 100 points), Dance Team Performance (75.83 out of 80 points), and Hip-Hop Dance (63 out of 70 points).

This will be the second time that Gannon will perform in the Game Day Division with new elements, including band members.

"Game Day cheer had such a great performance," Makay said last week. "It was our first showing with all elements: cheer, dance, band, and mascot.

"Dance Team Performance had really strong execution on pom and hip-hop sections and was also a great first performance. Hip-hop dance brought great energy to the floor today and was a crowd favorite."

After Saturday's meet at Slippery Rock, the Golden Knights will turn away their attention away from competition for one weekend as they prepare for their performances in the Gannon-Mercyhurst basketball doubleheader on Feb. 25.

After that, the Golden Knights will compete in the Keuka Cheer Classic in New York on March 11.