Grand Rapids, Mich. — When Head Coach Ashley Kaman and her Aquinas Dance Team awoke on February 14, 2026, they had no idea they were about to live out a script worthy of Hollywood.

To understand just how remarkable the day would become, you have to rewind to WHAC #1 at Marian on January 31. The Saints, widely considered one of the favorites in the conference, finished a disappointing fifth. For all practical purposes, that result appeared to eliminate Aquinas from realistic contention for the WHAC regular-season crown.

Last week, however, the Saints responded. At WHAC #2 in Livonia, hosted by Madonna, Aquinas rebounded in impressive fashion, narrowly edging the host and the rest of the field to claim the victory. Even so, the path to a conference title remained razor thin — mathematically possible, but far from guaranteed. And that was fine with Coach Kaman and her crew. The focus was simple: compete with pride, honor the seniors on Senior Day, and take a swing at winning either WHAC #3 or the Saints Showdown — two separate competitions, staged back-to-back, on the same day inside the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center.

Now it gets fun.

The order of competition is determined by random draw at the start of the day. Only the judges know the scores until the conclusion of the event. After Madonna's routine and as the Saints prepared to take the floor, there was a quiet, guarded optimism in the building. You could feel it.

But as the old adage goes, to be the best, you have to beat the best — and for Aquinas, that meant they needed to crush it.

Guess what?

Crush it, they did.

The Saints delivered a performance packed with precision, energy, and confidence, earning a score of 89.88 to win the seven-team WHAC #3 competition. It was their best when it mattered most.

Then came the twist.

Before the celebration could fully begin, the WHAC office had to be contacted for clarification. With Aquinas' win and Madonna's placement, the two programs found themselves in a virtual tie for the conference crown. This was uncharted territory. Clarification was required from Aaron Gillespie and Eric Ward at the WHAC office.

After the formula was applied and the numbers finalized, the verdict was in.

Aquinas had completed a remarkable comeback and claimed the WHAC regular-season championship, co-WHAC championship with Madonna.

A collective sigh of relief — and then pure joy — swept across Coach Kaman and the Saints. Goal number one: accomplished. Conference title secured. Now the focus can shift to the WHAC Tournament and national competition.

You might think that emotional roller coaster would have allowed the Saints to exhale, to ease up during the Saints Showdown later that afternoon. Not this team.

Despite the fact that the Saints Showdown had no bearing on the conference standings, Aquinas attacked it with the same intensity and edge. The result? Another victory. The Saints scored 89.79 to complete the daily double, earning bragging rights and turning an already unforgettable day into something even more special.

The Saints compete with eleven dancers: Alana Calhoun, Amelia Thurm, Ava Koester, Lillian DeWinter, Grace Steketee, Ondreana Mather, Mackenzie Schuur, Zoey Laga, Brooklyn Kozminski, Isabelle DuRussel, and Gabriela Rodriguez. What makes this lineup even more impressive — and perhaps a little scary for the rest of the NAIA — is its youth. Five of the 11 competitors are freshmen, three are sophomores, and just one is a senior. Alana Calhoun, the lone graduating senior competing that day, represented Ludington with pride. If this is the present, the future is incredibly bright.

When the season began, Coach Kaman was wrapping up maternity leave. The program never skipped a beat. Samantha Phillips and Kassidy Boldt stepped in and ensured continuity, allowing Coach Kaman to fully enjoy time with her beautiful baby. But once she returned, it was full speed ahead.

Will this team win the WHAC Tournament? Time will tell. But if this season has proven anything, it's this: you cannot count them out — not in the WHAC, and certainly not on the national stage. Congratulations to the Saints on the regular-season conference crown, but something tells me this group isn't finished writing its story just yet.

Coach's Comments
Following the two home competitions in one day, Head Coach Ashley Kaman reflected on the resilience of her squad:

"I'm incredibly proud of this group. After Marian, there were no excuses and no panic — we just went back to work. They trusted the process, stayed committed to the details, and competed for each other every single day. This team has grown so much in how they handle adversity. When the pressure was on, they stayed composed, leaned on their preparation, and executed. That's the kind of mentality that gives you a chance to do something special."

WHAC #3 Final Scores

Saints Showdown Final Scores

Up Next

Following the incredible rebound en route to winning the WHAC regular season, the Saints now turn their attention to the postseason. The WHAC Championships will be held inside the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center on Friday, March 6. Joey Sutherlin and Meg Christian will have the call on the AQSaints YouTube Network. If you would like to see the WHAC #3 and the Saints Showdown on the AQSaints YouTube Network, click here.  Be sure to stay tuned to AQSaints.com for full coverage, stats, and postgame recaps as the Saints March On.