Spirit Squad News Archive
USA College Cheer and Dance National Competition - 2/6/2006
The Idaho State University Cheerleaders and Bengal Dancers recently returned from the United Spirit Association College Cheer and Dance National Competition held at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas, NV.
The squads competed in preliminaries on Sunday February 5th and advanced to finals on Monday February 6th . The Cheerleaders competed in the Small Coed Show Cheer division against ten teams, five of which advanced to finals. The Small Coed division is designed for teams with 1-4 males on the squad. The Bengal Dancers competed in the Small Open Dance division against twelve teams, six of which advanced to finals. The small open dance division is designed for teams with 14 or less dancers performing.
The ISU Cheerleaders finished 2nd in their division behind Long Beach State University. In 3rd place was Mesa State College, 4th place UC Davis, and 5th place Cal State San Bernardino. This was the first time that the ISU Cheerleaders have ever competed at a National competition.
The Bengal Dancers finished 3rd in their division behind 2nd place University of Kentucky and 1st place Cal State Fullerton. In 4th place was Long Beach State Univ., 5th place San Diego State Univ., and 6th place Southern Utah Univ. This was the third year that the ISU Bengal Dancers have attended USA competition in Vegas; they finished 5th in 2004 and 4th in 2005. At prelims the Bengal Dancers competed against another Big Sky team, Northern Arizona, and in state rival Boise State, neither of which advanced to finals.
The ISU Cheerleaders and Bengal Dancers will be performing their competition routines on Friday March 31st at 6:30pm at Reed Gym, tickets are $3 at the door. Other local dance and cheer groups will also be performing. The Bengal Dancers will also be competing in April at the National Dance Alliance Collegiate Championship in Daytona Beach, FL. They are currently ranked in 1st place going in to the NDA Championship, the team finished 2nd in 2005 at NDA.
The ISU Cheerleaders are coached by head coach Dax Cox and under the direction of ISU Spirit Squad Director Hilary Hofmaier. The ISU Bengal Dancers are coached by assistant coach Lindsay Tucker and head coach Hilary Hofmaier. For tryout information for the 2006-2007 ISU Bengal Dancers and Cheerleaders please contact Hilary Hofmaier at 282-4547 or hofmhila@isu.edu.
Spirit Squad In Anaheim - 8/22/2005
The Idaho State University Bengal Dancers and Cheerleaders recently returned from dance and cheer camp in Anaheim, CA. The National Cheerleading Association and the National Dance Alliance hosted the camp at the American Sports Center.
While at camp the Cheerleaders and Bengal Dancers earned several awards. The Cheerleaders took home; 1st place Sideline Routine, 1st place Fight Song, 2nd place Spirit Routine, Team Work Award, the coveted NCA Spirit Stick, and all blue ribbons with superior ratings. The Bengal Dancers took home; 1st place Team Dance, Best All Around Award, Spirit Award, NDA Spirit Stick, and a blue ribbon with a superior rating. The Bengal Dancers also had three NDA All Americans; junior Co-Captain Amy Taylor became a three time recipient, sophomore Megan Warren, and freshman Whitney Smith.
The ISU Spirit Squad coaching staff was awarded the NDA/NCA Collegiate Program Development Award for their directing and coaching of the Bengal Dancers and Cheerleaders. The Program Development Award is given to the university that is developing a successful and effective program as well as having an outstanding camp with both their dance and cheer teams. The Program Development Award was voted on and given by the NCA/NDA staff.
Hilary Hofmaier, is the Spirit Squad Director and has been the Head Coach of the Bengal Dancers for the past five years. Dax Cox, enters his first year as Head Coach of the ISU Cheerleading Squad. Dax is from Hazen, Arkansas and was a cheerleader at Henderson State University. Lindsay Tucker, also enters her first year as assistant coach for the Bengal Dancers. She was a Bengal Dancer from 2001-2005 and served as team captain from 2003-2005. Lindsay has received several awards including; Bengal Dancer of the year in 2005, the Team Leadership Award in 2004, and was also a NDA All-American in 2004.
The Captain of the Bengal Dancers is senior Sheena Phelps and the Co-Captain is junior Amy Taylor. The Cheerleading Captain is senior Nicole Clifford and the Co-Captain is Katie Standley.
The 2005-2006 Bengal Dancers are; (Captain) Sheena Phelps, Chelsie Ayre, Tausha Eastvold, Devri Ellis, Akiko Endo, Lisa Marley, Whitney Smith, and Megan Warren of Pocatello, Chelsey Heyrend, Jamie Johannsen, and Jennifer Peck of Idaho Falls, (Co-Captain) Amy Taylor of Rexburg, Jennifer Torgesen of Soda Springs, and Danyiel Grade of Boise.
The 2005-2006 Cheerleaders are; Whitney Driever, Nicole Lish, and Kassi Tankersley of Pocatello, (Captain) Nicole Clifford, Merlinn Perkins and Becky Walker of Idaho Falls, Jeff Landon of Shelley, Brianna Farnsworth and Dananda Hancock of Rigby, Liz Belliston of Burley, (Co-Captain) Katie Standley of Twin Falls, Kristi Mazza of Soda Springs, Tyler Drury and Clayton Halford of Preston, and Thiriza Cairl of Meridian.