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All Eyes on the Gophers: Minnesota Spirit Squad Heads to the “Super Bowl of Dance” - GopherHole.com
Every January, Orlando hosts the “Super Bowl of Dance” as college teams across the country converge on the Walt Disney World Sports Complex for the UCA/UDA College National Championships. In the dance and cheer world, it doesn’t get any better than what will be taking place this weekend in...
Every January, Orlando hosts the “Super Bowl of Dance” as college teams across the country converge on the Walt Disney World Sports Complex for the UCA/UDA College National Championships. In the dance and cheer world, it doesn’t get any better than what will be taking place this weekend in Florida. In 2026, all eyes (and pom-poms) will be on the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Spirit Squad – a team that is rich in tradition and excellence and has become a viral sensation year after year with their powerful technical performances.
The Minnesota Gophers Spirit Squad is a juggernaut in this world. They are one of the most decorated programs in the nation. With 28 combined UCA/UDA national championships between cheer and dance, Minnesota has established itself as a powerhouse in more than one category. They have also been elected to represent Team USA in international competition on multiple occasions, winning three Gold Medals at the ICU World Championships. They are coached by Amanda Gaines, who was recently named the National Dance Coaches Association College Coach of the Year.
From January 16-18, the Gophers will compete in multiple divisions. This weekend, they will compete in the Small Coed Cheer Game Day and DIA Jazz, and Goldy Gopher will perform in the Mascot Showdown.
In preparation for the weekend, the Spirit Squad hosted its annual Best of the Best showcase back at Williams Arena on January 11th. The showcase featured high school and collegiate dance and cheer teams from across the Midwest. Over 8,000 people attended the event.
Per the University of Minnesota, this year, the Minnesota Dance Team welcomed back renowned former Gopher dancer Ava Wagner to choreograph Jazz with Assistant Coach Lauren Busyn, and once again, Head Coach Amanda Gaines choreographed the team's Pom routine with her longtime collaborator Anna Hilty.
Gopher Cheer’s Small Coed Cheer traditional routine was choreographed by Team Coach Dan Weaver, and Assistant Coach Abby DeThorne returned as choreographer
The event is televised via Varsity TV on the FloSports App. GopherHole.com will be posting updates and taking video of every Gophers team performance throughout the weekend. Check back here, as we will post scores at the end of each day.