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Crusaders Cheerleading Place Program High at WHAC Championship Tournament

10/21/2025 11:33:00 AM

GRAND RAPIDS-- Madonna University Crusaders Cheerleading team wrapped up their season on March 8th, 2025 at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships. The Crusaders fought hard and brought home their program high placement in the conference, taking 4th out of 6. Madonna narrowly edged out Aquinas College, holding on to their placement by less than a point. Madonna Cheerleading performed their most difficult routine to date and hit with minimal deductions in both rounds. 
The Greywolves from Lourdes hit their season high score, securing them a Conference Championship and a trip to nationals. After bringing home a Regular Season Championship, Concordia University Ann Arbor in their final conference championship suffered major drop deductions, pulling their placement all the way down to 3rd, falling behind Siena Heights University by 0.12. 
Here is how the championship concluded:
Place Team Points
1st Lourdes 86.41
2nd Siena Heights 84.66
3rd Concordia 84.58
4th Madonna 71.56
5th Aquinas 71.09
6th Rochester Christian 67.5
GRAND RAPIDS
"It's an honor to continue to watch this program grow every single year," said Head Coach Amber Hauck about her Crusaders. "I'm proud of this team and where they continue to go." 
The Crusaders also had their record number of All-Conference Athlete Tryouts this year. Sadly, due to a fall in the tryout, none of the Madonna athletes were selected. Many other All-Conference honors were brought home by the Crusaders. Senior Jenna Kilburg received the Champion of Character Award for Madonna, selected by her coaching staff for embodying the character values of the NAIA. Coach Amber Hauck was also selected by her peers in the WHAC as the Champion of Character Coach for embodying the Five Core Values of: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Servant Leadership.



Eight Crusaders Cheerleaders also brought home Scholarship All-Conference Awards. These awards are given to sophomores or higher with a cumulative 3.25 GPA who have been at their institution for at least 1 academic year. The Crusaders honored included Isabella Covert, Haley Eby, Jenna Kilburg, Mary Lauria, Samantha Reini, Brianna Rice, Natalie Richards, and Faith Walls. "This award means a lot to me" Senior Mary Lauria reported, "I am happy the WHAC continues to honor our work in the classroom as well as on the mat."

Lastly, Coach Amber Hauck received another award for the Crusaders, bringing home the Coach of the Year Award for the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. This award is voted on by all Head Coaches of teams in the conference. "I am humbled." Coach Hauck said upon receiving her award, "I am proud to be a part of a program and staff that make me look good. I also cannot express to you what it means to stand in a room with this group of absolutely amazing coaches, all who make this sport continue to move forward, and receive this honor."



Want to see the Crusaders and the WHAC Cheerleaders in action? Check out video of the competition On Demand HERE. 
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