BUENA VISTA, Fla. – For the first time, Washington State University's dance team, the Crimson Girls, advanced to the finals, placing 12th, Sunday, in the Division IA Jazz category at the Universal Dance Association (UDA) National Championships. WSU's cheer squad and Butch T. Cougar also competed in the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) Division IA Coed Cheer and Division IA Mascot categories, respectively. 

"Making it to the final round, and placing 12th at this competition was such an accomplishment for our dance program," Crimson Girls coach, Kaila Wallace said. "But, I am mos proud of how this team came together and left everything out on that dance floor. We felt proud and accomplished with our performances this weekend."

The Crimson Girls advanced to the finals Saturday after placing seventh in a field of 23 teams. They were joined by Minnesota, Ohio State, Arizona State, Tennessee, Michigan, Florida State, LSU, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Arizona and San Diego State. In the finals, the Crimson Girls finished 12th, as Minnesota won the championship, followed by Ohio State in second and Tennessee in third. 

Cougar cheer did not to advance to the finals, after placing 12th in 2016, 11th in 2015 and 12th in 2014. Kentucky won its 22nd national championship and second-straight. Alabama finished second and Mississippi came in third. Colorado, the only other Pac-12 school to compete, failed to advance to the finals. 

"While we didn't receive the outcome we were hoping for, we came together as a team over the past few weeks and we hope to build off of that for the future," Spirit coordinator and head cheer coach, Chris Opheim said.

Butch T. Cougar also competed for Washington State in the Mascot National Championship, finishing ninth. Goldy the Gopher of Minnesota was crowned top mascot. He was followed by Aubie the Tiger from Auburn in second and Brutus the Buckeye from Ohio State in third. Chip from Colorado was the only other Pac-12 mascot vying for the national championship, as he finished fifth.