Dedication, resilience, and teamwork defined this year’s journey to nationals for UTPB’s spirit programs. Both teams committed themselves fully to preparing for one of the most competitive stages in collegiate athletics, determined to represent their university with pride and push their programs to new heights.
For collegiate cheer and dance teams, competing at the NCA and NDA College Nationals in Daytona, Florida is the ultimate dream. This year, both the cheer and dance teams from The University of Texas Permian Basin qualified to compete. . It marked the cheer teams fourth year taking the national stage and the dance teams third.
In the months leading up to nationals, both teams put in countless hours of training. Their commitment went beyond regular practices; they pushed themselves through intense workouts, refined their technique, and reviewed practice footage to improve and learn from mistakes. All of this was balanced with the demands of being full-time students, attending appearances, and, for some, working part-time jobs.
The dance team rose to the challenge with the help of three seniors, Madi Lane, Tasia Diggs, and Helen Pasternak, who helped keep the team focused and motivated. With their leadership, the team was able to hit the stage with an incredible performance. Their routine, which combined strong choreography, stage presence, technique, and unity, captured the judges’ attention. Staying positive and determined throughout the competition, the team advanced to finals and finished sixth overall. They also improved their score by three points from the previous year, a testament to their hard work and growth. With momentum on their side, the team is already looking ahead, aiming to return to Daytona for a fourth year and push for a podium finish.
This year, the cheer team overcame many obstacles to compete. After having to make changes to the routine due to injuries and athlete changes, the team came together through their strong bond, resilience, and focus to put together a solid routine on the mat. Like many collegiate cheer teams, they spent their spring break perfecting their performance, and their dedication showed on the mat. After delivering two solid routines, the team earned a fourth place finish, just shy of the podium. They are already turning this years' experience into fuel to return stronger next year.
In the months leading up to nationals, both teams put in countless hours of training. Their commitment went beyond regular practices; they pushed themselves through intense workouts, refined their technique, and reviewed practice footage to improve and learn from mistakes. All of this was balanced with the demands of being full-time students, attending appearances, and, for some, working part-time jobs.
Dance
The dance team rose to the challenge with the help of three seniors, Madi Lane, Tasia Diggs, and Helen Pasternak, who helped keep the team focused and motivated. With their leadership, the team was able to hit the stage with an incredible performance. Their routine, which combined strong choreography, stage presence, technique, and unity, captured the judges’ attention. Staying positive and determined throughout the competition, the team advanced to finals and finished sixth overall. They also improved their score by three points from the previous year, a testament to their hard work and growth. With momentum on their side, the team is already looking ahead, aiming to return to Daytona for a fourth year and push for a podium finish.
Cheer
This year, the cheer team overcame many obstacles to compete. After having to make changes to the routine due to injuries and athlete changes, the team came together through their strong bond, resilience, and focus to put together a solid routine on the mat. Like many collegiate cheer teams, they spent their spring break perfecting their performance, and their dedication showed on the mat. After delivering two solid routines, the team earned a fourth place finish, just shy of the podium. They are already turning this years' experience into fuel to return stronger next year.
