The Lionettes dance team earned trophies in the Division II Hip Hop and Division II Jazz competitions at the NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Team National Championships April 10-11 at the Band Shell and Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. Entering as the two-time defending champions in Hip Hop, Lindenwood finished second at the 2025 event, while taking third in Jazz.

In the Hip Hop preliminary round, the Lionettes posted an event score of 90.6857 to sit solidly in second place, just under two points behind Valdosta State in first place and over five points ahead of Gannon University in third. As one of five teams to advance, Lindenwood executed a solid performance in the finals, improving to a score of 91.4286, but the Red Hots also improved and held off the Lions to win the title with Gannon maintaining third.

The Lionettes were one of just three squads to earn event scores above 92 in the preliminary Jazz competition. With 92.2286, Lindenwood was just behind Northwest Missouri State in second and two-and-a-half points behind Davenport University in first. The Lionettes improved their score to 92.6286 in the finals, which was good enough to hold off Valdosta State for the final trophy in the event, but not enough to move up in the standings. Davenport took the crown with Northwest Missouri State taking second. It was the second year in a row that Lindenwood captured third place in Division II Jazz.

Director of Spirit Squads (Cheer and Dance) Carrie Nichols summed up the week of success for the programs.

"Lindenwood cheerleading and dance made history once again," she said. "We are the only university to bring five cheer teams and two dance performances to Nationals with each making the top three winners circle. We are so proud of these student-athletes and their accomplishments as not many schools bring 150 athletes and walk away with multiple medals.

"Regardless of the placements whether it was first, second, or third, these athletes are walking away with memories and valuable lessons to help shape them in all that they do. We are one family, and we are excited for the future as we head into Division I." 

The Lionettes entered the 2025 NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Team National Championships with nine titles overall and seven straight completed seasons with at least one championship. That streak may have come to an end, but the Lionettes still brought home two winners circle trophies.

 

	Hip Hop Division II Finals
1	Valdosta State University	93.9143
2	Lindenwood University	91.4286
3	Gannon University	86.2286
4	University of Texas - Permian Basin	84.0857
5	Vanguard University	83.6
	Jazz Division II Finals
1	Davenport University	95.2857
2	Northwest Missouri State University	93.8286
3	Lindenwood University	92.6286
4	Valdosta State University	92.5429
5	Bentley University	89.6857