KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- The University of St. Francis competitive dance team continued its historic season by having a school-record ten players earn NAIA All-America status.  The recognition comes on the heels of USF earning its first-ever bid to the NAIA National Championships and placing eighth last weekend.

The ten honors were the second-most among all the schools that had representatives.  Only national champion St. Ambrose University (Iowa) had more with 12 selections.  The Saints also tied for the second-most first team picks for the second year in a row with five in 2024.  Again, St. Ambrose boasted the most with ten.

Gaining the first-team nod for the second consecutive year were senior Alexandra Whittenhall and junior Kristen Myers.  They were joined by senior Stephanie Behland and freshmen Marianne Gerona and Emma Schuetz. 

Sophomore Halie Foster improved her status from honorable mention last winter to a spot on the second team in 2024.

USF had representation from each academic class on the third team, including senior Kylie Severson.  Representing the junior class was Brianna Hoffman, followed by sophomore Aleksandria Potoczny and freshman Alyssa Hoffman.

The All-America teams are determined by the national championship judges and they are graded on a scale where 16-plus places someone on the First Team, 14.5-15.99 on the Second Team and 12.0-14.49 on the Third Team.  Student-athletes are recorded doing four elements: range leaps, triple pirouette, two 8-count turns and dance choreography. They are graded on a scale of 1-5 ranging from poor form and technique to superior form and technique. 

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on Twitter @USFSaints.