By Grace Malec, Sports Editor
Aquinas Dance celebrates first place – Photo by Aquinas Dance Team
The Aquinas Dance team is stepping onto the floor for a new season, with a new team of equal rookies and veterans.
After fighting to prove themselves in the 2024-2025 season, the dance team is looking for redemption this year. Finishing second in the WHAC and 12 overall out of 10 at NAIA nationals, the team set their sights above.
“This season for the Aquinas Dance Team is really focused around empowering each other and holding ourselves to a higher standard everyday,” sophomore Lillian DeWinter said. “Our coach has really pushed all of us not only as dancers but as a team all together. There has been tremendous growth for the AQ Dance Team this year.”
As the Saints look forward to the new season with a young team, they are looking to make a comeback after a tough season last year. The WHAC dance landscape is panning out to look a bit different this season with the loss of Concordia University Ann-Arbor dance team, who took the WHAC dance championship title last year, and with Siena Heights competing in their farewell season with a limited roster.
The team has taken the floor twice already this season; finishing 6 of 7 teams at the Marian Invitational and taking first place of six at the Madonna Invite.
The team takes sixth place at their first competition of the season – Photo by Aquinas Dance Team
Aquinas Dance has four more competitions to take the stage this season, with the next two being hosted at Aquinas in Sturrus Sports and Fitness center; hosting both the Saints Showdown on Feb. 14 and the WHAC Championships on March 6.
After hosting, the Saints head to Topeka, Kan. to compete in NAIA Nationals on March 27 and 28 before finishing off their season in Daytona, Fla. at National Dance Alliance Nationals.
With the new season, dance just means more for the athletes. “For me dance is a second home,” sophomore Brooklyn Kozminski said. “It has taught me discipline and vulnerability at the same time, where pushing myself during my hardest moments is met with encouragement and motivation from both my coaches and teammates.”
The team returns to the floor on Saturday, Feb. 14 in Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center as they host the Saints Showdown before returning on March 6 to a home crowd to host WHAC Championships.
The Saint 