MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Feb. 27, 2023) - The Buena Vista University Cheer & Dance Teams headed up north to the Minneapolis Convention Center over this past weekend to compete in the WOW Factor Nationals where they brought home a trio of top-3 team performances and an individual runner-up performance.

Senior Stephanie Rinkel competed in the College Open Dance Solo Division and earned a runner-up finish. Their cheer team had three STUNT groups which took part in the All-Girl, College, 5-Person division.  The group consisting of Bailey Houston, Kambree Hultquist, Emma Chase, Laura Bunge and Maddie Sunderman took 1st while a young group of freshmen Cassidy Weide, Grace Downy, MacKenzie Beyer, Mary Woodard and Junior Sally Henry took 2nd place. Lily Matsuda, Sam Crawford, Jasmin Terven, Tiffany Garcia and Dayana Bueso made up the third group and they took third.

"Each group made significant improvements from their conference performances this weekend," said BVU Director of Cheer, Dance and STUNT, Kezia Molinsky. "The division requires all stunting skills (basket tosses and various acrobatic skills) be set to music and go no longer than 90 seconds. With having all freshmen flyers (the team member being thrown into the air), each group did amazing considering the newness of this style of competition." 
 
"I'm proud of all our competitors this weekend," she added. "For this competition, the athletes are responsible for their own choreography and music choices. I love seeing them to take charge of their own routines. They practiced before and after our team practices and on their test days to prepare. They really take a lot of pride in this and I'm so impressed with all of their hard work."

The STUNT groups will continue their competition next weekend during Spring Break by taking part in the Oklahoma City University Tournament on Mar. 4-5. The groups will take on Texas Women's University on Mar. 4 at 10 a.m. followed by a game against Saint Mary's University (Texas) at 12 p.m.