DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA— The Central College dance and cheerleading teams competed at the NDA/NCA (National Dance Alliance/National Cheerleaders Association) College Nationals last week and put an exclamation point on their seasons.
           
The dance team secured a runner-up finish in Division III Pom for the second season in a row. Their score (86.7714) was just behind the winning score posted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (86.9714). Central qualified third in the prelims but moved up to second in the finals.
           
"We were happy to move up a placement in the finals," coach Lexi Gbogbo said. "We missed the national championship by just .2 points."
           
The Dutch also competed in Division III Jazz category, taking seventh with a score of 85.9714.
           
"Our tryouts for next season are on April 26 and we already have 22 dancers registered, which is double the size of our current team," Gbogbo said. "I'm excited for the upcoming talent of dance athletes that are hungry to take back our national title we won in 2023."
           
In the cheer competition, Central was 10th in the Division III Spirit Rally competition with 77.5350 points. Alma College (Mich.) won the championship with 96.7250 points.
           
"(Assistant coach Megan) Bouska did an amazing job for her inaugural season with the cheer team," Gbogbo said. "We're looking forward to growing the cheer team even bigger for next season to advance more visuals and numbers on the floor."
           
Dance team members include Bri Clark (sophomore, Romeoville, Ill.), Jordan Crooks (sophomore, Mount Pleasant), Eliana Dohlman (freshman, Adel, ADM HS), Chayse Gilchrist (sophomore, Fairfield), Lanee Hall (sophomore, Van Meter), Holland Hunter (freshman, Bloomfield, Davis County HS), Kate McConnell (sophomore, Erie, Ill.), Grace Osthus (freshman, Urbandale, Des Moines Christian HS), Jessie Pospisil (senior, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Valley Christian HS), Elison Ritzert (freshman, Pella, Pella Christian HS), Kate Schneider (freshman, Knoxville), Brielle Sherman (freshman, Grinnell) and Reagan Wosmansky (freshman, Van Meter)
           
Cheer team members include Alexia Brown (freshman, Hartford, Carlisle HS), Sydney Buseman (junior, Hampton, Hampton-Dumont HS), Madison Craig (junior Solon), Ava Daher (freshman, St. Louis, Mo., Lutheran High School South), Ashlee Freymark (junior, Marion), Laureli Long (freshman, Muscatine, Oskaloosa HS), Emily Patten (freshman, Mount Vernon), Abbie Stelk (sophomore, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS), Haley Wallin (junior, Northwood, Northwood-Kensett HS) and Maggie Williams (junior, Newton).