By Raychael Moseley / Managing Editor

After a season marked by change and adversity, the Missouri Valley College dance team enters its NAIA season today with a clear goal: prove how much the program has grown in just one year.

Through these changes, coach Kristen Revis is proud of how far the team has come in such a short amount of time. 

“I’m really excited about this team that I have this year,” Revis said. “The comp group wasn’t together as a whole until December 29, when two new team members came in. So what they’ve accomplished between then and today is remarkable to me.”

The team ended the 24-25 season in seventh place. With five competitions scheduled, the team hopes to increase that number.

Captain Kinzie LeMasters is excited for this upcoming season.

“We have a lot of new talent, and I love my team so much,” she said. “We have really put in the work this season, and I am really proud of the routine we have put together.”

Captain Ty Billingsley is ready for all of their hard work to be shown on the dance floor. 

“I’m really excited to see all of our hard work come together on the floor. This season feels special because we’ve grown so much as a team, not just technically but in how we support and trust each other,” she said. “Getting to represent our program at the NAIA level and push ourselves to be better every practice is something I don’t take for granted.”

The team has faced a multitude of challenges this year.

“We’ve faced some challenges with injuries and had to go through formation and part changes. It can be trying, but we have to keep a positive attitude and overcome those obstacles to keep moving in the right direction,” Coach Revis said. “I tell the team at the very first team meeting, we are a dance team family and we have to be there for one another.”

LeMasters felt some of these challenges, but is excited to showcase what they have accomplished.

“We have had some bumps in the road. Injuries and having to reblock a few times, but that hasn’t stopped us from having an amazing routine,” she said. “I think that once we hit the floor, people will be really impressed with how much our program has grown in a year.” 

The team opens at Kansas Wesleyan today, January 30.