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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (04/07/21):

HAWKLINE HEADED TO COLLEGIATE COMPETITIONS AFTER

BRINGING HOME THIRD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

MONROE, LA – Fresh from their third consecutive national championship, the University of

Louisiana Monroe’s Hawkline is on the competition road again, headed to Daytona, FL.

The award-winning dance line left Wednesday morning for the 2021 National Dance Association

(NDA) Collegiate Dance Championship, April 8-10. The competitions can be seen on Varsity

TV.

Hawkline Head Coach Sonni Bennett credits the ULM team's success to the dedication of the

dancers and the bond they share.

“It is amazing that 18 young women from all over Louisiana can come together and create such

magic. These girls have put their hearts and souls into this nationals season. We are such a close-

knit family, and I 100 percent believe that is why we were so successful this year," Bennett said.

Bennett said the NDA is a "next level competition," and the Hawkline is ready.

"No matter the outcome of this weekend, we are proud to compete at this national level and show

the world we are the University of Louisiana Monroe Hawkline.

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Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year; we could not have done it without you,"

she said.

Under the direction of Bennett and assistant coach Kayla Attaway, the dancers, worked for

months on the demanding – and award-winning – routine choreographed by Mackenzie Grassi.

Regan Howard, a four-year Hawkline veteran and team captain, said it's a team effort on and off

the practice floor.

“We’ve been preparing since the first of the year. We were nonstop at practice and workouts

every day getting ourselves ready for this challenge. I’m overwhelmed with excitement and pride

for the hard work each member, coach, and our support systems have brought to this program.

(It’s) truly a blessing to be a part of,” Howard said.

Team members that participated in the competition include: Sydni Ellen Littleton, freshman,

Risk Management and Insurance, Bossier City; Mackenzie Miller, freshman, secondary

education, Mooringsport; Kaylee Nolan, freshman, Kinesiology/pre-pt, Pollock; Haley Hearron,

freshman, pre-dental hygiene, Blanchard; EmmaKate Dennie, freshman, pre-nursing, Benton;

Christina Collins, freshman, kinesiology/pre-pt, Houma; Mallory Sprehe, sophomore, Risk

Management and Insurance, Ponchatoula; Morgan Lancaster, sophomore, kinesiology/sports

management, Waterproof; Valerie Paige, sophomore, nursing, Bogalusa; Maegan Vallee,

sophomore, nursing, Pineville; Daija Essien, junior, art, West Monroe; Carmin Velasquez,

junior, political science, Sterlington; Sarah Ford, senior, health studies management and

marketing, Slidell; Sara Ross, sophomore, pre-dental hygiene, Bossier City; Katherine Johns,
sophomore, kinesiology/pre-pt, Denham Springs; Kennedy Boston-Woods (co-captain), junior,

marketing, Monroe; Katie Taylor (co-captain), senior, dental hygiene, Alexandria; Regan

Howard (captain), senior, math education, Alexandria.

“I have to say, the girls I get to call my teammates took this task and made it look easy. Our team

quite literally practiced like there may not be a next practice. Getting to experience this win

together will always be better than hearing it over a Facebook Live or Zoom video. It’s a feeling

that cannot be replaced,” said Katie Taylor, Hawkline co-captain.

In early 2020, the team was broken-hearted when the in-person nationals were canceled due to

COVID-19. The Hawkline competed virtually via video and won the national championship for

the Virtual American Dance/Drill Team competition.

Watch the Hawkline championship dance routine here: https://fb.watch/4xRUbsDa3S/

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