Laker Dance Team adds national titles to its collection

"The team's presence throughout the weekend reflected true professionalism, focus and heart," Desiderio said. "They rose to every challenge with resilience, showed constant support for one another and fellow teams, and grew in confidence with each performance. What stood out most was their steadiness under pressure, their trust in their preparation and the pride they showed in representing our program."

This year, the team was invited to compete in the Jazz Battle, a competition featuring top routines from all jazz divisions, where they came out on top once again.

"I couldn't be more proud of this group," Desiderio said. "Their dedication, growth and the culture we've built made this historic weekend possible. Becoming 20-time national champions is an incredible accomplishment and a true reflection of the hard work and legacy of this program. I'm deeply 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.