Dance Qualifies for Nationals
By Colbi Howser, Communications and Sports Information Intern
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eight qualifying group champions (four dance, four cheer) and sixteen at-large bids (8 dance, 8 cheer) will make their way to Davenport, Iowa, March 11 - 12 for the 2016 NAIA Competitive Cheer & Dance National Invitational, the national office announced Monday. Over the last two weekends in four qualifying groups, 47 teams faced off for the chance to make it to the national invitational.
The 2016 event is hosted by Saint Ambrose University (Iowa) and will take place at the Quad City River Center. Dance competition begins at 4:30 p.m. CST on March 11 with the cheer routines to start at 7 p.m. Saturday's activities will commence at 10 a.m. with the awards ceremony scheduled for 2:45 p.m.
The 2016 NAIA National Invitational is a first in the sport of Competitive Cheer & Dance (CCD). CCD is in the second year of "Invitational Sport" status, which means that at least 25 institutions currently sponsor Competitive Cheer & Dance at an intercollegiate varsity level. The NAIA is the only collegiate Association to declare Competitive Cheer & Dance as an intercollegiate varsity sport.
After the completion of the NAIA National Invitational, the sport will be reviewed by the National Administrative Council (NAC), which governs the NAIA sport status. If approved at that point by the NAC and if the sport meets a minimum of 40 institutions sponsoring the sport at an intercollegiate varsity level, then the sport of Competitive Cheer & Dance would become a NAIA National Championship sport beginning with the 2016-17 season.
2016 Competitive Cheer National Invitational Qualifiers
Teams listed alphabetically
Teams Qualification
Bethel (Kan.) At-Large Bid
Concordia (Mich.) East Qualifier Champion
Graceland (Iowa) At-Large Bid
Kansas Wesleyan At-Large Bid
Martin Methodist (Tenn.) Midwest Qualifier Champion
Midland (Neb.) North Qualifier Champion
Oklahoma City South Qualifier Champion
Robert Morris (Ill.) At-Large Bid
Saint Ambrose (Iowa) At-Large Bid
St. Francis (Ind.) At-Large Bid
St. Gregory's (Okla.) At-Large Bid
Texas Wesleyan At-Large Bid
2016 Competitive Dance National Invitational Qualifiers
Teams listed alphabetically
Teams Qualification
Aquinas (Mich.) At-Large Bid
Baker (Kan.) At-Large Bid
Briar Cliff (Iowa) At-Large Bid
Grand View (Iowa) At-Large Bid
Hastings (Neb.) At-Large Bid
Lindenwood (Ill.) Midwest Qualifier Champion
Midland (Neb.) North Qualifier Champion
Morningside (Iowa) At-Large Bid
Oklahoma City South Qualifier Champion
Saint Ambrose (Iowa) East Qualifier Champion
Stephen's (Mo.) At-Large Bid
William Penn (Iowa) At-Large Bid
For all the qualifying event information, click here.
For more National Invitational information, including the schedule, click here.
