FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (April 21, 2020) – The Northern Arizona dance team once again brought the spirit to NAU Athletics games all season long, but they also reached the mountain top themselves two months ago at the USA Collegiate Championships in Anaheim, Calif.
For the fifth time at the USA Collegiate Championships and sixth time overall, the NAU dance team was crowned national champions by claiming the 2020 USA D1 Hip-Hop National Championship. It marked the fourth time in the last eight years that the Lumberjack dance team placed first at the USA Collegiate Championships in the hip-hop category.
Their routines over two days from Feb. 15-16 allowed the 'Jacks to push past CSU Dominguez Hills and fellow Big Sky institution Southern Utah in a heated competition. The three schools were separated by just three points with NAU totaling 88.57 points in its national championship performance.
The 17-member dance team, led by seniors
Ashlee Mitchison and
Alexi Karras, has now won USA D1 Hip-Hop National Championships in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2020. NAU also owns two more dance national titles – UDA D1 Hip-Hop and USA D1 Jazz – which were both won in 2017.
The 2020 NAU dance team is the fifth feature in NAU Athletics' month-long Celebration of Champions. Be sure to follow the celebration on
www.nauathletics.com and NAU Athletics on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram.
QUOTABLE
"This season was definitely here to show that all the hard work does pay off. Constant dedication and determination make it all possible. We had some tremendous obstacles in our way, but as a team and with strong leadership, we were able to end the season on such a high note as National Champions!" – Senior
Ashlee Mitchison
2020 NAU DANCE BY THE NUMBERS
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NAU's 2020 D1 Hip-Hop National Championship was the Lumberjacks' fourth national title in the hip-hop category at the USA Collegiate Championships. The Lumberjacks previously won USA Hip-Hop championships in 2013, 2014 and 2017 along with a UDA D1 Hip-Hop National Championship in 2017 as well. |
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The Lumberjack dance team has won six all-time national championships in all. NAU also owns a USA D1 Jazz National Championship in 2017. |
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NAU edged CSU Dominguez Hills by less than three points – 2.95 points to be exact – for the national championship. |
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The NAU dance team also placed fifth at the USA Collegiate Championships in the Jazz competition. |
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NAU had 17 members on the dance team this season. |
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Two of the 17 members were graduating seniors – Ashlee Mitchison and Alexi Karras. |
PREVIOUS CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS
April 7 –
2019 NAU Women's Tennis
April 9 –
2019 NAU Men's Tennis
April 14 –
2019 NAU Men's Cross Country
April 16 –
2020 NAU Women's Cross Country
