Laker Dance Team wins national titles

"From start to finish, the team showed professionalism, focus and heart, rising to every challenge, supporting one another and other teams and performing with confidence," Desiderio said. "What stood out most was their ability to stay present, trust their training and represent our program with pride."

This year, the team was invited to compete in the Jazz Battle, a competition for all jazz divisions, and won.

"I couldn't be more proud of this group," Desiderio said. "Their dedication, growth and the culture they've built made this historic weekend possible. It reflects both their talent and character. I'm incredibly grateful to lead this team and excited for what's ahead."

- Cass Wainwright is a senior writing major and a student writer for University Communications.