DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.--"Be Unforgettable" has been the motto all year for the Bellarmine University Dance Team, and they certainly lived up to that by capturing their first ever national championship at the National Dance Alliance's Division II Dance Team Performance competition today in the "Band Shell" at Daytona Beach.
The Knights squad placed themselves as the odds on favorite after turning in the top performance in preliminaries yesterday. Â However, the scores were reset for today's final, and Bellarmine delivered another clutch performance with a score of 9.098--an improvement on their score from preliminaries.
"Going into the finals in the first place spot is a lot of pressure," said Head Coach Janine Klutka. "We told the team to block that out and just focus on their routine...don't think 'I have to keep first,' but think 'point my feet, stick my turns.' "The final scores showed Minnesota-Duluth in second with a score of 9.025 with Tamagawa University, Stonehill College, and the University of Southern Indiana rounding out the top five. Bellarmine also was recognized with the "Innovative Choreography" award in the competition.
Klutka said that the 2014-15 dance team has been exceeding expections all year long. Â "
I knew to expect great things from this team when they earned the program's first ever Gold Bid at camp this summer. Each time the coaching staff has raised the bar this year, the team surpassed it, growing stronger all season."
"Winning this national championship is an amazing victory, and an unforgettable feeling that I don't think any of us will ever forget. Â It's a testament to the hours of practice and dedication this outstanding group of athletes has put in. Â They've given their all, and I couldn't be more proud," said Klutka.
The national championship team includes:Coaching Staff:Â
