In just the second season of competition at the Division I level, the Lion Line dance team made history by advancing both the jazz and hip hop squads to the finals at the UDA Collegiate National Championships January 17-19 at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida.
The weekend of competition began with the Division I Jazz preliminary rounds on Friday evening. Lindenwood was placed in the A group of 15 teams and successfully advanced to the semifinals with a fourth-place performance that earned an event score of 89.9841.
As one of 20 total squads making the semifinals, Lion Line next performed early Saturday afternoon with the goal of advancing as one of just 10 teams making the finals. The jazz team posted another solid performance, earning a score of 89.254 to finish eighth a punch a ticket to Sunday.
With each squad performing live for the third time, the level of performance was ramped up in the finals on Sunday. Lion Line was up to the challenge, but couldn't improve its position. With an event score of 85.3333, the Lindy's maintained eighth place in the final standings, finishing just over two-points behind the University of Nebraska – Omaha in seventh. Hofstra University won the championship, edging the University of St. Thomas in second and the University of California – Santa Barbara in third by less than a half-point.
The competition journey for the Lion Line hip hop squad began Saturday afternoon as one of 16 squads in the semifinal round. Lindenwood earned an event score of 85.5714 to advance to the finals as one of eight teams, finishing just over a half-point ahead of the cut line.
Lion Line put forth another passionate performance on Sunday, but it wasn't enough to climb in the final standings. With a score of 82.381, the Lindy's took eighth in the
Division I Hip Hop competition, finishing less than two-tenths of a point behind Central Connecticut State University in seventh. Utah Valley University claimed the championship by a whopping margin of over two-points over the College of Charleston in second.
Head Lion Line Coach
Kristine Pickens reflected on the performances.
"Lion Line made history this weekend at UDA College Nationals! We accomplished our goal of making it to the finals in both dances," she said. "We had two fantastic performances in the finals and could not be more proud of their growth and success this season!"Â
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| Division I - Jazz |
|
| Finals |
|
|
| Rank |
Program Name |
Event Score |
| 1 |
Hofstra University |
93.3175 |
| 2 |
University of Saint Thomas |
92.9206 |
| 3 |
UC - Santa Barbara |
91.9524 |
| 4 |
Utah Valley University |
91.8254 |
| 5 |
Cal State - Fullerton |
89.5238 |
| 6 |
Grand Canyon University |
89.5079 |
| 7 |
University of Nebraska - Omaha |
87.4762 |
| 8 |
Lindenwood University |
85.3333 |
| 9 |
University of Delaware |
85.2222 |
| 10 |
St. John's University |
83.9683 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Division I - Hip Hop |
|
| Finals |
|
|
| Rank |
Program Name |
Event Score |
| 1 |
Utah Valley University |
94.0476 |
| 2 |
College of Charleston |
91.7778 |
| 3 |
Southeastern Louisiana Univ. |
89.619 |
| 4 |
Saint Joseph's University |
88.2698 |
| 5 |
Grand Canyon University |
87.8413 |
| 6 |
University of Saint Thomas |
87.6667 |
| 7 |
Central Connecticut State Univ. |
82.5556 |
| 8 |
Lindenwood University |
82.381 |
