ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Ottawa University cheer and dance teams competed in the 2018 Collegiate Championships & Collegiate Expo in southern California this past weekend. 



The dance team finished 7^th in the nation in the Collegiate Open Dance-Jazz Division. OUAZ competed well in the semi-finals setting themselves up in good position for the finals amongst the competition. Finals day showed a close finish for OUAZ, narrowly missing a top five spot by less than 2 points.
 
The judges pointed to the great energy, attitude, timing and individual use of skills of the OUAZ Dance team, performing a beautifully choreographed routine with a high level of difficulty.
 
The Cheer team was unable to perform in this competition due to injury.
 
This competition ends the season for the Dance and Cheer teams as they re-focus their attention to their next season. Both teams will be holding tryouts for the upcoming 2018-2019 season Saturday, May 26^th. Cheer will begin check-in at 12pm and Dance will follow starting at 3pm at Valley Vista High School in Surprise, AZ.
 
Stay tuned for an announcement when registration will open! If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to our Head Coach Melanie Nemerguth at Melanie.nemerguth@ottawa.edu
 
OUAZ will be hosting clinics for skill development on the following dates:
 
Jumps and Tumbling Clinic
When: March 13
Time: 7-9am
Where: Bling Tour
With who: Taylor Graham. Taylor is a very talented tumbling and jumps coach who will be flying in from the Midwest to work with athletes on jump technique as well as all level tumbling skills.
Cost: $10
 
Dance Clinic
When: May 11
Time: 7-9pm
Where Bling Tour
With who: Kaitlyn Conley who was a member of the ASU dance team and does choreography around North & South America. 
Cost: $10
 
TRYOUTS
When: May 26
Time: CHEER 12-3pm DANCE 3-6pm
Where: Valley Vista High School
With who: OUAZ coaches as well as a panel of qualified judges.
Cost: $30
 
   
 
About Ottawa University
Founded in 1865, Ottawa University prepares professional and liberal arts graduates for lifetimes of personal significance, vocational fulfillment and service to God and humanity within a Christ-inspired community of grace and open inquiry. Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution serving 3,000 students through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kan., and Surprise, Ariz., and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kan.; Phoenix, Queen Creek and Surprise, Ariz.; Brookfield, Wis.; Jeffersonville, Ind.; as well as online. For more information, visit www.ottawa.edu. 
 
For more information about OUAZ athletics, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/ouaz/athletics. Follow OUAZ athletics on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OUAZSpiritAthletics/ and on Twitter twitter.com/OUAZSpirit.