The Blinn College cheer and dance teams received their national championship rings in front of the home crowd on Saturday night at Cub Stadium in Brenham.
“When they get to open their box on the field and see their ring for the first time, it’s like the cherry on top after all their hard work,” said Sarah Barland Flisowski, spirit coordinator and head dance coach. “It is so wonderful to see them grow as athletes from the beginning of the year to the end and see what they are able to do on a national stage.”
Each championship marked the fourth in program history.
The cheerleaders received their National Cheerleaders Association championship rings prior to the Buccaneers’ game against Trinity Valley Community College, while the dance team received their National Dance Alliance championship rings at halftime.
In April, the Buccaneer cheer team scored 94.7 points at the NCA championships in Daytona, Fl. To defeat the University of Central Oklahoma for its fourth consecutive national championship in Small Coed Division II.
“The ring ceremony is the final celebration of a season of perseverance and overcoming every obstacle that was placed in front of us,” said Michael Brewster, head cheer coach. “For the rookies, it was a dream come true to win a collegiate national championship, and that ring is a reminder of the work they put in to achieve such a goal.”
“I was almost taken back to when we won. It was the exact same feeling as soon as I opened the box,” sophomore cheerleader Kelsie Conn said.
In April, the Blinn dance team earned its second consecutive national championship in Pom Division II with a score of 9.463 out of a possible 10 points to defeat McLennan Community College.
“It was the best experience ever knowing that all of your hard work truly does pay off,” sophomore Jessica Hoff said.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 36 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
