Wolf Pack dance advances to NAIA National Championship

NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola University New Orleans hosted the NAIA Competitive Dance Southeast Qualifier on Monday, as five teams, including the Wolf Pack, competed with a trip to the NAIA National Championship on the line. Loyola grabbed first place in the event, earning the automatic berth to the championship, which will take place March 29-30 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. 
 

It's the sixth trip to the National Championship in eight years as a program for the dance team. 
 

Loyola started the competition with a score of 72.6 in the preliminary round, which makes up 25 percent of the total score. Campbellsville University was next with a 65.5, followed by the University of the Cumberlands (63.3), Ave Maria University (60.9) and Keiser University (48.4). 
 

The Wolf Pack came back out in the final round with an even better score, which makes up 75 percent of the total score. Their routine was good enough for a 76.5 to secure a first-place finish with a total score of 75.6. Ave Maria made the biggest jump among the five teams, totaling a final-round score of 71.7 to place second overall with a 69 total score. Campbellsville was third with a total score of 66.8 after a final round of 67.2, then Cumberlands (64.9) and Keiser (49.8) were fourth and fifth after final rounds of 65.4 and 50.3, respectively. 


Rachel Berzas, Chloe Benoit, Gabby D'Angelo, Elisse Ward Dones, Jayden Jackson, Sofia Marble and Sara Tujague all competed for the Wolf Pack.