ORLANDO, Fla. – History was made last weekend at the DTU Nationals: The College Classic at the Orange County Convention Center, as the Hillcat Cheer and Dance teams joined forces on the national stage for the first time.
 
On Friday night, the two squads collaborated in the Super Spirit Showdown, earning a fourth-place finish with a score of 38.72 out of a possible 50 points. The Cats delivered a strong performance, finishing just under a point behind Greenville (39.40) in second and Wright State (38.90) in third. Abilene Christian won the national title with a score of 43.31.
 
"This was an amazing experience for sure," said ninth-year head coach and former Hillcat cheerleader Titus Massey. "Breaking out of our comfort zone and working with another team to create something new and exciting was really fun." He added, "Taylor and I have different coaching styles, and the cheer and dance teams both have different vibes, but we found a way to build on each other's strengths and come together to represent Rogers State in a way that made us proud."
 
First-year head coach Taylor Marshall said, "This season, we pushed our limits and challenged our program to grow in athleticism and elevate performance quality. The collaboration with RSU Cheer is long overdue for Rogers State University's spirit program, and I am proud to be part of this new tradition. This experience has created so much excitement for the future of RSU Spirit!"
 
Marshall continued, "I want to thank all of our incredibly talented student-athletes. I am grateful that everyone from both programs brought continuous energy and determination as we prepared for nationals. Thank you for trusting and believing in our vision as you pushed yourselves to perform at your absolute best. RSU Cheer and Dance represented Rogers State with excellence and left it all on the floor! I look forward to pushing the limits further and continuing our success next season."
 
The Hillcat Dance Team competed in the DII Hip Hop category, opening with a solid score of 83.02 to finish sixth in the preliminary round on Saturday night. They outperformed fellow MIAA school Washburn, which scored 82.64. Grand Valley State led the way with a score of 90.02, followed by Central Oklahoma (86.64), Tampa (85.54), Emporia State (83.94) and Saint Leo (83.86).
 
On Sunday, the Hillcats concluded their trip to Florida with an eighth-place finish, scoring 82.80 in the finals. Grand Valley State edged Tampa for the national title, posting a score of 91.26 to Tampa's 88.30. From the MIAA, Central Oklahoma (87.08) finished third, Washburn (84.86) took fifth and Emporia State (84.7) placed seventh.
 
"To my girls on the RSU Dance Team, thank you for your hard work, resilience and commitment to the team all season long," said Marshall, reflecting on the team's performance in the 2025-26 campaign. "My first year as head coach of RSU Dance will be one that I'll never forget. It's been full of growth, understanding, and moments that have already begun to shape the future of RSU Dance. I am incredibly proud of this team and all that they have accomplished this year. Go Hillcats!"
 
For the complete list of results, visit RESULTS | The College Classic.