COMPETITIVE CHEER AND DANCE
GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT NCA AND NDA COLLEGE NATIONALS
WHEN: Thursday through Saturday
WHERE: Daytona Beach, Fla.
LIVE STREAM($)

 

It's the biggest week of the year for the Gannon competitive cheer and dance teams, who are in Daytona Beach, Fla., for the National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance College Nationals.
 
Coach Kerri Makay's student-athletes will compete in the Division II level in All-Girl cheer, Game Day cheer and dance, Team Performance dance, and Hip Hop dance.
 
Gannon begins competing on Thursday when three of its four squads will compete. The Golden Knights will continue competing on Friday. If the Hip Hop team advances to the finals, the Knights would compete on Saturday in the finals.




 
GANNON SCHEDULE:
 
Game Day: Bandshell: Thursday, 2:28 p.m. (prelims); Friday, 2:12 p.m. (finals).

All-Girl: Ocean Center Arena: Thursday 4:37 p.m. (prelims); Friday 1:24 p.m. (finals).
 
Team Performance: Ocean Center Hall: Thursday 8:49 p.m. (prelims); Friday 7:30 p.m. (finals).
*Top five teams advance to the finals.
 
Hip Hop: Ocean Center Hall: Friday 11:33 a.m. (prelims); Saturday 11:24 a.m. (finals).
*Top five teams advance to the finals.
 
 
GANNON'S DIVISIONS:
 
ALL-GIRL
 
What: Gannon makes its return to the Intermediate All-Girl DII Division after competing in the Co-Ed in 2023. The team will compete Thursday and Friday.
 

Teams competing: Nova Southeastern University Club, Lander University, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Slippery Rock University, Assumption University, Lubbock Christian University, University of New Haven, Valdosta State University, California State University, Stanislaus, Oklahoma Baptist University, Dallas Baptist University, Wayne State University, and Lindenwood University.
 
Makay's view: "All Girl has focused on execution of building skills and improving its performance factor."
 
Knights to watch: "Ivanelys Martinez (Cidra, Puerto Rico/Notre Dame High School) is a second-year base and tumbler who has been stepping up and finding her voice as a leader for the All-Girl team. Over the past couple of weeks, I've watched her push through adversity to do what's best for her team," Makay said. "While this is a young team, Ivanelys, and her fellow second-years, Genna Terry (Lake Ariel, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area High), Molly Maurer (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg Area High School) and Avery Darlymple, are bringing their experience to the team of some very promising freshmen, like Victoria Collins (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee), who we have also seen leadership potential breaking through."
 
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GAME DAY
 
What: The Game Day DII Division will be tightly contested because of just five teams in that division. Game Day includes cheer, dance, mascot, and band members. The team will compete Thursday and Friday.
 

Teams competing: Dallas Baptist University, Wingate University, Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Tarleton State University.
 
Makay's view: "This will be a super tight division as many of these teams have been head-to-head for years. However, our Game Day team is feeling optimistic and ready to take on the challenge. This year's routine has more visual elements and hard-hitting skills than years past. We carefully created our routine based around what the judges are looking for, while also staying true to Gannon traditions.
 
"While Game Day will progress straight through to the finals, we want to see the team placed in the top three at the end of day one to set them up for success going into day two."
 
Knights to watch: "We are very grateful for our Game Day seniors, Cassie Irwin (a talented and versatile top girl, pyramid middle-layer, base and tumbler), Jaida Wilkerson (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) (a dancer who also competes in Hip Hop), Hayden Eiss (Corry, Pa./Corry Area High School) (our mascot) and McKenna Deible (Knox, Pa./Keystone High School) (a member of GU pep band). These athletes have been incredible leaders and have played a huge role in creating inclusivity and unity across the different groups on the floor. Cassie especially has stood out this year, as she has pushed her limits to achieve new skills for her team, and step into whatever role the coaching staff asks of her."
 
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TEAM PERFORMANCE
 
What: This is a three-style routine with jazz, pom, and hip hop all in one.
 

Team competing: Saint Leo University, Assumption University, Maryville University, Winona State University, West Virginia Wesleyan College, University of Southern Indiana, Davenport University, and Tarleton State University
 
Makay's view: "This year, the dance team's goal is to see all three routines (Game Day included) making it to the finals. Last year was a huge step in the right direction, making it straight through to the finals, then jumping up in placement, ultimately resulting in us receiving the title of fifth in the nation. We are looking to exceed that this year.
 
"Last year, our Team Performance routine did not progress to the finals, falling short by less than 0.3 points. This year, we are back and hungry to secure a finals spot. With a routine full of all the technical elements the judges are looking for, all that is left to do is execute and perform with excellence."
 
Knights to watch: "Claire Eaton (Conneaut, Ohio/Conneaut), particularly, has emerged as a standout, in practices and on the floor," Makay said. "During practices, she's constantly asking questions to focus on improving the routine and the team as a whole, providing positivity and drive, and holding herself to a high standard."
 
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HIP HOP
 
What: The Gannon Hip Hop team placed fifth in the 2023 NDA College Nationals and will look to move up.
 

Teams competing: Metropolitan State University, Lander University, Mars Hill University, University of Texas-Permian Basin, California State University Dominguez Hills, Limestone University, Lindenwood University, and Valdosta State University
 
Makay's view: "This year's Hip Hop routine explored a different, more hard-hitting and aggressive style, and the team has risen to the occasion and then some. This team is more prepared and holds more promise than any team in program history. … These girls have worked tirelessly to achieve a routine with full team tricks, many exciting lifts, additional hard-hitting skills, and our most exciting and stylistic choreography yet. 
 
Knights to watch: "Our seniors – Stephanie Andres (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area), Allie Kreinbucher (Butler, Pa./Butler), Jaida Wilkerson (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin), Arianna Negron (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Preparatory School), and Emma Dietrick (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area High) – have done a standup job of perfecting the team dynamic, pushing the team past their limits, and making everyone's experience as great as possible so that the team could perform and be a contender at this high level," Makay said.