DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - University of Pikeville dance team wrapped up team performance qualifying for finals with a fifth-place finish at the 2025 NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship.  

The Bears, along with eight other NAIA programs, competed in the NAIA team performance prelims. To advance to the finals, a team must finish in the top five. UPIKE did just that. The Bears recorded a raw score of 63.72/80.00 and had a percent perfection score of 79.65, good for fifth place in qualifying.  

UPIKE has made finals in each of the last three years and will take on the other four teams who made finals in team performance. Those teams are Aquinas College (Mich.), Missouri Baptist College, Oklahoma City University, and Roosevelt University (Ill.).  

Coach Hanna Case's squad will be back in action Friday morning for the hip hop prelims. It will be the Bears' first time competing in the hip hop prelims since 2018. The Bears will also be performing in the team performance finals Friday evening.  

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