Dec. 9, 2011
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa dance team, Iowa cheerleaders and Herky the Hawk will be competing at College Nationals in January 2012. Nationals takes place at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 13-15. The competition is put on by Universal Cheerleaders Association and Universal Dance Association (UCA/UDA) based out of Memphis, Tenn.
This continues a streak of Nationals appearances for the Iowa dance team. The squad qualified after placing eighth in the video entries, and it will compete in both the jazz and pom catagories in 2012.
Last season, the Hawkeyes placed seventh in the pom and ninth in jazz at the 2011 Nationals — the program’s first top 10 finish in both categories.
Herky the Hawk returns to College Mascot Nationals in 2012 after placing seventh in in qualifying videos. Other mascots in the top-10 include; Sparty and Goldy from the Big Ten and Aubie (Auburn), Boomer (Oklahoma) and Smokey (Tennessee). Mascot Nationals consists of a one and a half minute skit entertaining and leading the crowd. Herky’s last appearance at Nationals was in 2010.
The Iowa cheerleaders will return to Nationals in 2012 for the first time since the early 2000s. The squad will perform a routine of pyramids, stunts, baskets, tumbling and crowd leadership, including their large flags seen at all home athletic events. Iowa will compete against national powerhouse Kentucky, as well as Alabama, Central Florida and Big Ten foes Purdue, Penn State, Minnesota, Indiana and Ohio State.
Nationals finals are televised on ESPN and ESPN2 throughout the year. More information about the UCA/UDA can be found at www.varsity.com/college_nationals for schedules, results and live streaming.