ORLAND, Fla. — The Endicott College dance program captured its first-ever Universal Dance Association (UDA) Open Pom National Championship on Sunday evening at the 2020 UCA/UDA College Cheerleading & Dance Team National Championship, held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World® Resort.
"This season's motto was perseverance. We overcame many obstacles this year, which made this win today even sweeter," said Endicott dance head coach Nicole Sao Pedro-Welch. "I have been dreaming of this day for over a decade and it's almost hard to believe. No one deserves this more than these student-athletes. Go Gulls!"
Today's win for the Gulls marks the second club varsity national title in the history of the Endicott Athletics and Recreation department. The Gulls defeated St. Cloud State University, Minnesota State University (Mankato), University of California San Diego, Northwest Missouri State University, Orange Coast College, University of Minnesota Duluth, The College of New Jersey, and Pittsburg State University en route to claiming the Open Pom national title.
Endicott's historic day also featured the Gulls placing fourth in the UDA's Game Day Competition and fifth in Open Jazz. Endicott missed out on medaling in Open Jazz by half of a point.
Meanwhile, last season, the Gulls placed a then-program-best fourth overall in Open Jazz and fifth in Open Pom, along with winning the title of "Best in the Northeast" at the 2019 Battle of the Northeast Championship.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott will look to claim its 10th straight UDA New England Regional title in February.
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(Photo Credit - Nick Grace)