Red Raider cheer and dance competition seasons are getting ready to kick off, but that does not mean that they are not using this season to get ready.
“First semester we spend the majority of our time cheering on our football team and working technique in our pom, jazz and hip-hop styles of dance,” said Coach Taylor Decker.
Their season starts the beginning of the second semester on Friday, Jan. 27 at Doane. They then go to York and Concordia on Feb 9 and 10. The Raiders also host a triangular against Concordia and Doane on Feb. 16. There is also an invite at Dordt University on Feb. 17, followed by the GPAC Championships on Mar. 8 and 9 at Doane.
They look to have a very busy schedule ahead of them in a little over three months.
This busy schedule does not keep them from excelling both on and off the mats.
On the dance team, Abby Bender, Nichole Coward, Sarah Moews and Sarah Weisbrod recieved NAIA Scholar-Athlete Honors.
And on the cheer squad, Zoe Bruflat, Lauren Eidsness, Kate McEwen, Faith Olson, Jenna Smit, Hanna Stratton, Megan Van Kalsbeek and Sydney Zeutenhorst also received the NAIA Scholar-Athlete Honors.
There was also a new addition to the team when they hired a new assistant coach, Michelle van Beek. She was hired after being in the volunteer assistant position. She was on the first varsity cheer team at Northwestern where she was a team captain, choreographer and a flyer.
Cheer and dance have done a lot so far in their short run as Raider varsity teams. They cheer at home games and also do halftime dance routines. They also compete very well at the invites around the Midwest.
For full rosters and schedules visit nwcraiders.com.
