Baker Dance Places Third, Cheer Takes Fourth as Wildcats Host 2024 Heart Cheer & Dance Championships

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. - Baker played host to the 2024 Heart Cheer & Dance Championships on Saturday in the Collins Center where the Wildcats dance squad earned a third-place finish and the cheer team came in fourth.

With 10 teams competing on the cheer side and seven on the dance, the BU dance team registered a score of 78.83 in the preliminary round to sit in fourth heading into the finals. The Wildcats also finished in fourth in the cheer prelims with their first score of the afternoon coming in at 76.32

In the dance finals, the Wildcats scored an 82.03 and were narrowly edged out by runner-up Benedictine, who totaled 82.55. Grand View claimed the conference title with a winning score of 85.49. Baker continued its streak of finishing in the top three in every Heart competition since 2016 with three league championships over that time.

The BU cheer team was awarded a final tally of 78.01 to place fourth overall and earn the program's highest finish at the conference meet. Missouri Valley (90.0) took first place and led a top four that also featured MidAmerica Nazarene (86.38) and Grand View (82.57).

Dancers Megan Raach, Zach Bejarano and Katelyn Knaussman were each named to the All-Heart First Team. Linda Shine, Mallory High and Wrenn Paden were second-team selections, while Samantha Resch, Elly Green and Emma Jones earned honorable mention honors.

Highlighting the cheer honors, Riley Honeyman landed on the All-Heart First Team, while Emily Hansen and Zoey Schroeter received second-team laurels. Ryanne Ham earned honorable mention recognition to round out the awards for the Wildcats.

Up next, Baker dance will host the 2024 Midwest Regional Qualifier on Saturday, March 16 inside the Collins Center in Baldwin City. The cheer squad's next outing will be at the DTU College Classic on April 11-14 in Orlando, Fla.

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