Sports at The Ohio State University is no joke. However, there is one team that really dedicates time to their school, uplifts their sport, and is an inspiration to the country: The Ohio State Dance Team.
The Ohio State Dance team is referred to by many as the girls who perform in the Shoe. But many don't know the inspiring story of only recently being allowed in the shoe, and so many more things overcome.
This team succeeded in two national championships and beating an undefeated team, all under slightly more than seven years under the department of athletics.
Here is a list of the many factors that make this team, in my opinion, deserving of the title of the best sports team at Ohio State:
1. The hours
It is not easy to perfect routines as difficult as the Ohio State Dance team's national routines. Because of this, they practice all day during winter break. During other seasons, they work long hours lifting and practicing cheers such as fight song.
2. Service to school
What makes Ohio State Dance Team's hours truly beyond most sports is the game attendance as part of the spirit squad as well as practices. The Ohio States 21 members take shifts at almost every important sporting event, from wrestling, women's basketball, to men's basketball and football.
3. Athleticism
The Ohio State Dance team are athletes unlike any other. In addition to lifting like many sports teams, they practice difficult skills like kick ups (standing up in a flip like motion from laying down), arials (they were the first team to do both arials in their 2017 national routine), and intense turn combinations.
4. Smart
The Ohio state dance team is also the sports team with the highest GPA and the most members (all of the team) attending the scholar-athlete dinner.
5. Artistry
Dance is captivating not only for its difficulty but for its artistry, and the Ohio State Dance Team exceeds in this aspect of dance better than any other dance team in the nation. For example, this year the Ohio State Dance Team won at the college dance UDA camp with their home routine, which was choreographed by five of its members.
6. Class
What I personally like about the Ohio State Dance team is their class. Their costumes are never for flashy, sparkly, or sexiness, they just always look great representing their school.
7. Overall awesomeness
Did I mention they won 2 national championships? While this is confusing, let me put it this way: the Ohio State dance team won as many of the highest level competitions possible for one team. Not only that, they were truly the underdogs, as not only had Ohio state never come home with a national championship, no team had beat the incumbent winner, the Minnesota dance team, in one of the categories, Division 1A pom, ever.
8. Breaking barriers
Now that the team has 2 national championships under their belt, they truly are breaking more and more barriers. It is so exciting watching them perform more and more in front of the students and other audiences, from Brutus performances to freshman kickoffs, and all of the new exciting things to come
