University of Minnesota Athletics

9/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Athletics

Nashville, Tenn. - The Athlon Sports annual Sideline Spirit Contest has chosen Danielle Rizzo of the University of Minnesota to represent her school, community and the Big Ten Conference in the third round of this year's contest.

The Athlon Sports Sideline Spirit Contest is in it's seventh year and has become widely popular. The contest runs from the beginning of football season in September, until bowl season starts in December. Throughout the season, visitors to AthlonSports.com have the opportunity to show their school spirit by voting for their favorite contestant.

Already in the third round, the season is broken up into four rounds and features seven cheerleaders or dancers in each session. The contestants represent each of the six BCS conferences, as well as one for each of the non-BCS leagues. Rizzo is the third round representative for the Big Ten and Golden Gopher fans can ensure she advances to the championship round by either giving her the most votes in her round, or making her the highest vote-getter from the Big Ten. The winner of the championship round is the contest's overall winner.

The winner will be featured in the 2010 Athlon Sports College Football annuals, along with receiving cash and prizes.

Rizzo is a senior on the Golden Gophers All-Girl Cheer Team and is originally from Hutchinson, Minn. Fans can log on athlonsports.com/spirit to cast their vote for Danielle once round-three voting begins on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 12:00 a.m. Voting will conclude on Friday Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m.

Friday, October 16
Wednesday, September 30
Thursday, August 20
Friday, June 26