LU Dance team places third in Pom division at first College Classic in Orlando

Saturday, April 12

Orlando, FL

TBD

Liberty University Club Sports

The College Classic

LU Dance finished third in the Division I Pom competition at the April 12-13 College Classic at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

LU Dance team places third in Pom division at first College Classic in Orlando

5/15/2025 4:28:00 PM | Dance

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In mid-April, Liberty’s Club Sports dance team competed at a national championship event for the first time, also advancing to the semifinals in the Jazz division.

Gallery: (5-15-2025) LU Dance nationals highlights

Competing for the first time at a national championship, The College Classic held in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., from April 12-13, Liberty University Club Sports' LU Dance team placed third out of nine programs in the Division I Pom category, narrowly missing gold.

"It was the closest final result of the entire competition," Lady Flames Head Coach Christine Ewald said, noting that out of 100 possible points, LU Dance scored 90.66 to place behind only Ohio University (90.94) and Central Michigan (90.82), well ahead of the fourth-place University of Montana (88.84). "The team did outstanding considering how super close the margins were. This was a history-making season, as we competed out of state for the first time. We couldn't have asked for a better showing, and I truly could not be prouder of this team and their results."

The Lady Flames had finished fourth in the preliminary round with a score of 87.94, barely behind Montana's (88.10). Other programs competing in the finals included Kent State University (87.40), Florida Gulf Coast University (86.44), University of Texas at Arlington (85.60), University of Denver (84.76), and Oral Roberts University (83.70).

Teams were judged on their pom motion technique, which included difficulty of pom motions, technique displayed in other movements, execution of routine, uniformity of movement, execution of spacing and transition, and execution of musicality; artistry, which included uniqueness of concept/movement, visual effects, and musicality of choreography; and showmanship, which included communication and projection by dancers.

Liberty team members included juniors Lizzy Haab, Lacey Woodall, Abbey Novak, Faith Chun, Lola-Reese Moxey, Ally Clark, Gianna Stickel, and Ava Edwards; sophomores Kayla Lampone, Lauren Bond, Lydia Szynal, Kyleigh Engle, and Anna Myers; and freshmen Emmalee Clow, Emma Hezlep, Georgia Dawson, Hannah Farland, Neely Pulkstenis, Gracie Shaw, and Maddie Pellitteri.

Haab, Woodall, Novak, Chun, Lampone, Moxey, Clark, Bond, Stickel, Pulkstenis, Szynal, Engle, and Pellitteri also participated on the LU Dance Jazz competition team entry that advanced to the semifinals.

"I was super proud of the girls because they worked really hard on two routines they needed to perfect, and they were so excited to compete in-person," said Ewald, who took the team to visit Universal Studios to celebrate their season that included dozens of performances at Liberty Football, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's Hockey, and Men's Lacrosse home games.

In Orlando, LU Dance's Pom routine was performed to a variety of songs by Christian artists.

"I was really proud of that aspect, that we could go in as LU Dance and represent the Lord with our music," Ewald said. "For our Jazz routine, we danced to 'Counting My Blessings,' which is such a beautiful piece by Seph Schleuter, and the girls were able to execute out on the stage as an opportunity to be a bright shining light for Jesus at that moment."

Before the competitions, Ewald passed out bracelets with scripture verses on them to every girl and coach on the team, instructing them to ask the Lord who they should give them to and, when He showed them, to take the time to talk and pray with those people and let them know that Jesus loves them.

"I wanted it to be intentional, and God opened up so many precious opportunities to pray for girls from lots of different schools while we were there to compete," Ewald said. "All glory to Him."

Last year, LU Dance hosted its first dance clinic, open to other Liberty students as well as high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in town for College For A Weekend (CFAW). This year it hosted two more, one in the fall and one in the spring, as well as its first-ever national showcase in the Liberty Arena.

For that event, which served as a final dress rehearsal for nationals, it collaborated with other dance teams on campus as well as the Liberty Cheerleading squad and "Thunder on The Mountain," Liberty's Indoor Drumline.

After returning from the national competition, LU Dance held its end-of-season banquet as well as auditions for next season's team.

"It was a very busy April," Ewald said, noting prospective team members first submitted videos in the preliminary round before the top 31 candidates, including the majority of the returning team members, were invited to compete in the final auditions.

"We're excited about next year's College Classic, set for April 10-12, 2026, and the opportunity we'll have there as a new team going back for a second year," Ewald said, noting in the future the team could move up to the NDA or UDA competitions, also held in Florida. "We're going to take it one year at a time and do whatever God calls us to do. He's the Head Coach and we want to be led by Him in everything we do."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer