The Dillard University Competitive Dance and Cheer Teams Off to the 2021-22 NAIA Southeast Competitive Cheer and Dance Competition This Saturday, Feb. 19
Tournament Website
NAIA's Competitive Dance/Cheer Website
New Orleans – The Dillard University competitive dance and cheer teams, who are in their first year of official NAIA competitive competition, are competing at the 2021-22 NAIA Southeast Competitive Cheer and Dance Competition this Saturday, Feb. 19, as both programs head to St. Thomas University's (Fla.) Fernandez Family Center in Miami Gardens, Fla.
According to the last schedule released, the Diamonds are set to compete starting at 1:25 p.m. EST on Feb 19 in the semifinals. The finals for the dance portion of the competition will be anywhere from 2:55 p.m. EST – 3:50 p.m. EST with the ranking from the first part of the competition determining when the team would compete next. The Dance All-Americans will be unveiled at 3:55 p.m. EST and the awards will be handed out at 4:45 p.m. EST. The Cheer Devils have an earlier start to the day as the program begins competition at 9:35 a.m. EST. The finals for the cheerleading portion of the competition will be from 10:45 a.m. EST – 11:35 a.m. EST Just like the DU Diamonds, the ranking from the first part of the competition will determine what time the Cheer Devils will compete. The Cheer All-Americans will be unveiled at 11:40 a.m. EST, while the awards will be handed out at 4:45 p.m. EST
The other teams besides Dillard in the Southeastern grouping are Ava Maria (Fla.), Campbellsville (Ky.), Cumberlands (Ky.), Loyola (La.), Montreat (N.C.), Point Park (Pa.), Talladega (Ala.), Thomas Moore (Ky.), Tougaloo (Miss.) and St. Thomas (Fla.).
The winning teams from the event will automatically qualify for the sixth annual NAIA Competitive Cheer and Dance National Championships in Ypsilanti, Michigan from March 11 -12.
Last week at the Battle of the Big Easy, the DU Diamonds went 1-1 in the head-to-head on Thursday and totaled 48.56 points on Friday in the multi-team competition portion. The Cheer Devils had an 0-2 record in the head-to-head on Thursday and totaled 46.86 points on Friday in the multi-team competition
The 2022 DU Diamonds are comprised of David DeJohn, Taylor Gentry, MaCoi Hollins, Keshawna Jackson, DeJoan Mitchell, Aziyah Rotimi, Alana Taylor, Savannah Terrell and India Woodard. The Diamonds are coached by Dr. Jana Smith, who is in her 23rd year leading the program.
The 2022 Cheer Devils roster consists of Kennedy Allen, Kyrah Anderson, Ashantis Balancier, Srilanka Barber, Tya Brooks, A'Niya Claiborne, Kayla Edwards, Asia Ellis, Taylor Fauntroy, Zakirah Fields, Kailynn Hart, Dalijah Hubbard, Jamiya Lewis, Markeyah Moore, Eulalia Morrison, Kaylee Pollard, Talajia Sardin, K'Ya Sowell, Destiny Spears, Karrie Spears, Casey Watson and Joy Wilkerson Knox. The team is coached by Courtney Cadore, who is in her first year with the program.
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