Wildcats Earn Third-Place Finish at 2024 NAIA Dance Championships

YPSILANTI, Mich. - Making its eighth straight appearance at the national competition, the Baker dance team took home third-place honors at the 2024 Nfinity NAIA Competitive Dance National Championships on Saturday in Ypsilanti, Mich.

Matching the program's highest finish at the NAIA championship, the Wildcats totaled an overall score of 88.66 which sent them into a tiebreaker with fellow Heart of America team Grand View where BU's final round mark of 88.83 broke the deadlock by a mere 0.03 margin.

"This routine has undergone a lot of different versions throughout the year," said head coach Lynsey Payne. "I was really impressed with the grit and determination this team has shown. They continued to improve with each performance and definitely peaked at the right time. Every year, dance improves at the NAIA level and to be third is such a huge accomplishment. I'm so proud of this team and all the work they put in."

Baker sat in fourth place after Friday's preliminary round, earning a score of 88.13 in its first performance of the weekend. St. Ambrose won its second straight championship with an overall score of 92.49.

After recording their ninth consecutive top-three finish at the Heart Championships, the Wildcats marked their highest showing at Nationals since the 2016-17 team finished in third.

Continuing with the postseason, Baker will shift its attention to the 2024 DTU College Classic, which takes place on April 11-13 in Orlando, Fla.

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