Grand Rapids, Mich. — 365 days ago, the Aquinas Competitive Dance Team walked away from the WHAC Championships with a feeling that simply wouldn't go away. The Saints had entered the 2025 championship with the goal of claiming the conference crown, only to watch Concordia deliver a spectacular performance and take the title.

While the 2025 season was still a strong one for Aquinas, anything short of a championship left the team hungry for more.

Three weeks ago, the Saints clawed their way back into the conversation by tying Madonna for the WHAC regular season title. But everyone inside the program knew the truth — the only thing that would fully satisfy that competitive thirst was a WHAC Tournament championship and the automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships that comes with it.

You might say Friday inside the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center was a very big day for the Saints.

AQ Wins the WHAC Dance Championship

Performing in front of a lively home crowd on Coach Bo Court, the Aquinas Saints delivered two spectacular routines that left little doubt who owned the WHAC stage in 2026.

The Saints took control early, posting a preliminary score of 91.58, the highest score of the opening round and a strong statement that the home team had come ready to perform. But Aquinas wasn't content to simply lead — they wanted to finish the job.

When the finals began, the Saints elevated their performance even further.

The routine showcased the full range of the team's talents, blending the style and precision of Jazz, the sharp synchronization of Pom, and the explosive energy of Hip Hop. Judges evaluate each routine on both execution and choreography, and Aquinas excelled across the board.

From the opening formation to the final hit of the music, the Saints demonstrated remarkable timing, technical precision, and a level of performance energy that electrified the Sturrus crowd.

The championship lineup included Alana Calhoun, Amelia Thurm, Ava Koester, Lillian DeWinter, Grace Steketee, Ondreana Mather, Mackenzie Schuur, Zoey Laga, Brooklyn Kozminski, Isabelle DuRussel, and Gabriela Rodriguez.

Their finals score of 92.63 not only secured the championship but also produced a record-breaking WHAC Championship final score, giving Aquinas a combined championship total of 92.37.

Simply put — the Saints saved their best for the moment that mattered most.

Appearance of the AQ Dance Lucky Charm

Every championship story needs a little bit of magic.

For the Aquinas Dance Team, that magic may have come in the form of their biggest supporter.

Lylah Gritter, who has become an honorary member of the team through the incredible Team IMPACT program, has been a beloved presence around the Saints for the past few seasons.

Unfortunately, Lylah had been battling illness for more than a week leading up to the championships, and there was concern she might not be able to attend.

While the stream on the AQSaints YouTube Network is outstanding (shameless plug -click here to watch the replay), Lylah wanted to be there in person to cheer on her teammates.

Maybe it was the determination to be there. Maybe it was the heartfelt get-well video card the team recorded for her, with each dancer sharing a personal message.

Whatever the reason, when the competition began and the Saints looked toward the VIP section outside the Saints Room, there she was.

Lylah had made it.

The Saints went on to win the WHAC Championship.

Coincidence?

Draw your own conclusions.

Awards, Awards, & More Awards

Following the finals, WHAC Commissioner Eric Ward and Aquinas Athletic Director Damon Bouwkamp presented a series of postseason honors — and Aquinas was well represented across the board.

The 2026 WHAC Competitive Dance All-Academic Team recognizes student-athletes who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher while competing at the conference level. Aquinas placed five student-athletes on the prestigious list:
Alana Calhoun
Mallory Huhn
Ava Koester
Brooklyn Kozminski
Amelia Thurm

Each team also selects one student-athlete to represent them on the WHAC Champions of Character Team, recognizing athletes who exemplify integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.  The AQ student-athlete awarded on Friday was Mallory Huhn, who also helped with the stream.

When the All-Conference teams were announced, the Saints again made their presence felt.

Grace Steketee earned Second Team All-Conference honors, while Ondreana Mather, Zoey Laga, Isabelle DuRussel, Alana Calhoun, and Gabriela Rodriguez were all named First Team All-Conference.

The final awards of the afternoon were the WHAC Newcomer of the Year and WHAC Dancer of the Year awards — and in a remarkable moment for the Saints, both honors went to the same student-athlete.

Freshman Ondreana Mather, a standout performer from Battle Creek, earned both awards after an extraordinary first season in the maroon and white.

Winning both honors in the same year is a rare accomplishment, and it serves as a clear sign that the Saints will remain a force in the WHAC for years to come.

WHAC Championships – Prelims

• Prelim scores account for 25% of the final championship score

WHAC Championships – Finals

• WHAC Championship record score

Coach's Comments

Following the historic championship performance, Head Coach Ashley Kaman praised the team's preparation and determination.

"What an incredible day for the Saints," Kaman said. "We knew coming into today that we would need to bring a high level of energy and excellence while competing against some incredibly strong teams in our conference. Over the last couple weeks, we really focused on cleaning up our pom and hip hop sections, improving our uniformity, and identifying places where we could make a bigger impact on the score sheet. I'm so proud of what this team has built this year, and we feel incredibly blessed to continue competing in the postseason."

Up Next

The Saints will now turn their attention to the NAIA National Championships in Topeka, Kansas, which take place in three weeks.

If the steady improvement shown throughout the season continues, Aquinas may very well find itself in the hunt for a national championship.

Whether that ultimate goal comes to fruition remains to be seen. But one thing is already certain — the 2025–26 Aquinas Competitive Dance Team has cemented its place as WHAC champions and another shining example of what dedication, preparation, and belief can accomplish.

And once again, it proves something the Saints community already knows well:

Every day is a great day to be a Saint.

For complete coverage of Aquinas Athletics, including stories, stats, recaps, and the latest team information, visit AQSaints.com.