ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland University Dance Team embarked upon their first nationals competition in Orlando, Florida at the Orange County Convention Center as part of The College Classic, racking up hardware and bringing home solid accolades.

"I am proud of this team and all of their accomplishments this past season. Nationals was a great way to end it and I look forward to the future of this program," said Head Dance Coach Brenna Irwin, "We will miss our graduating seniors. We have put in countless hours of practice to get to where we are and it's only up from here. The hard work was worth it."

The Jazz Routine saw 85.68 points flash on the LED Board from the judges, positioning the Golden Grizzlies in eighth overall ahead of the University of South Florida, University of Denver, and University of Saint Francis (Pa.). 

Six teams took the stage in the Hip Hop Routine where Oakland drew up 84.02 points to finish fourth overall in the event, just five points shy of first-place Stonehill College who accumulated 89.3. 

In Oakland's final routine, the Spirit Showdown, the Golden Grizzlies tallied 41.16 points for ninth overall, narrowly finishing behind Northwestern State University (La.) in eighth.