Contact: Emily Adlfinger, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

Feb. 21, 2022 – The Loras College cheerleading team competed at the 2022 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Competitive Cheer and Dance Invitational on Sunday at Nebraska Wesleyan University and left Lincoln, Neb. with the highest finish in program history, placing second in the Game Day category.

The Duhawks improved on a fifth-place finish a year ago to take runner-up honors with 169.50 points for their Game Day routine. Central College won the division with 240.3 points and Luther College finished third with 155.1 points.
"What an incredible weekend for this team," said head coach Kodie Ritchie. "They have worked so hard all year long, overcoming numerous obstacles. Their awesome performance simply radiated joy, energy, and enthusiasm—as a coach, I could not have asked for more! Finishing with the highest ranking in program history just made it all the sweeter and their growth as athletes, performers, and as a team has me bursting with pride."

The invitational, which began back in 2018, featured seven divisions in Cheer and Stunt-Female, Cheer and Stunt-Co-Ed, Cheer Group Stunt, Game Day, Dance Pom, Dance Hip Hop and Dance Jazz. Out of the nine conference institutions, eight currently have competitive cheer teams and six sponsor dance. A-R-C institutions with competitive cheer include: Buena Vista, Central, Coe, Dubuque, Loras, Nebraska Wesleyan, Simpson, Wartburg. Institutions sponsoring dance include: Buena Vista, Central, Coe, Nebraska Wesleyan, Simpson, Wartburg. Luther participated in the A-R-C Invitational for the first time.