University of Minnesota Athletics
Dance Team Wins National Championship, Goldy Takes Fourth
1/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The dance team captured its first national title, with Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan State and Central Florida rounding out the top five. Minnesota topped its then-best-ever finish of fourth place at the 2002 national championships. Minnesota, ranked No. 1 for the entire season, earned a paid bid to the national championships after submitting a performance on video which was ranked first by a committee of judges. The dance team is coached by Amber Struzyk.
Mascot Goldy Gopher finished fourth behind Aubie of Auburn University, Big Al of Alabama and Smoky of Tennessee. Goldy performed a two-minute skit with music and props. Goldy finished in third place at last year's national championships.
The Golden Gopher spirit squads are coached by Sam Owens, Dane Campbell, Amber Struzyk and Beth Frees. The competition will be shown at a later date on ESPN.
Complete results are available at www.varsity.com.
2003 College National Championship
Division IA Dance
1. University of Minnesota??
2. University of Wisconsin-Madison
3. Indiana University
4. Michigan State University
5. University of Central Florida
6. University of Tennessee
7. Louisiana State University
8. University of Cincinnati
9. University of Kentucky
10. University of Michigan
11. University of Kansas
12. University of Illinois
13. University of Oklahoma
14. University of Louisiana-Lafayette
15. Colorado State University
16. University of Alabama
17. Florida State University
18. Boise State University
2003 College Mascot National Championship
1. Auburn University - "Aubie"?
2. University of Alabama - "Big Al"
3. University of Tennessee - "Smoky"
4. University of Minnesota - "Goldy Gopher"
5. Michigan State University - "Sparty"
6. University of Wisconsin Madison - "Bucky Badger"
7. University of Kentucky - "Scratch"
8. University of Delaware - "YoUDee"
9. Boston University - "Rhett"
10. University of Central Florida - "Knightro"
11. Pittsburg State University - "Gus the Gorilla"
12. University of Cincinnati - "Bearcat"
13. University of South Carolina - "Cocky"
14. University of Washington - "Harry the Husky"
15. University of Southern Mississippi - "Seymour"
