The West Chester University Dance Team recently brought home gold as the Open Division Hip-Hop champions at the 2022 UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship.

The team won for the first time in program history at the elite competition produced by the Universal Cheerleaders Association and Universal Dance Association and held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World in Orlando.

State Sens. Carolyn Comitta and Robert “Tommy” Tomlinson have invited the national champions to the State Capitol in Harrisburg this spring to receive special recognition for their achievement, and ESPN will soon schedule a broadcast of the team’s winning performance.

Drawing nearly 225 cheerleading and dance teams from 44 states, the competition brought numerous skilled athletes together to showcase their talents and represent their universities.

The Golden Rams stood out from day one. During the qualifying round, they finished in first place and quickly earned a spot in the finals. With previous scores thrown out, the team performed for new judges the following day. After a full day of competition, the team was awarded the national championship for the first time in the club sport’s history at the university.

“The team is very proud to bring this national championship home to West Chester University,” said co-captain Julia Adams. “We want to thank WCU for its support and look forward to defending our national championship next season.”

The WCU Dance Team is a student-run organization led by two captains, Adams and Payton Johnson, and assisted by a student executive board. With the goal of being campus spirit leaders while showcasing their athletic talents, the team performs at university football games, men’s and women’s basketball games, and other special occasions.

“Dancers have some of the most incredible skills, and they do it with grace while making it look easy,” said Johnson. “In addition to being spirit leaders on our campus, members of the West Chester University Dance Team also work to be role models for future generations of female athletes. We want them to know that they are strong, powerful, and brave.”

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