St. Louis, Mo. – The American Midwest Conference (AMC) announced today that Campbellsville University, the University of the Cumberlands, St. Ambrose University, University of St. Francis (Ill.) and Viterbo University have been accepted as single-sport members for competitive dance, and that St. Ambrose and Dickinson State University have been accepted for competitive cheer.
 
With the addition of the five programs, competitive dance will become the AMC’s 18^th championship sport. The new members will join four full AMC members, Columbia College, Cottey College, Missouri Baptist University, and William Woods University, in sponsoring the sport. 
 
The AMC announced last December that competitive cheer would be the Conference’s 17^th championship sport beginning this year.  Dickinson State and St. Ambrose join six full members – Columbia, Cottey, Missouri Baptist, the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy, William Woods and Williams Baptist University.
 
“Such an exciting time in the Conference as we embark on a new academic year,” AMC Commissioner Will Wolper said. “To add another championship opportunity in the Conference, strengthen the sponsorship of a championship sport, and to accomplish both of those with the addition of six quality schools and competitive programs, the AMC is positioned to continue to move forward, providing student-athletes a tremendous athletic experience.”
 
Planning is underway for the Inaugural AMC Competitive Cheer & Dance Championships on March 7-8, 2025.
 
About the six new AMC members
Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, Ky.) is a member of the Mid-South Conference.  The Tigers dance program is coming off a third-place finish at the NAIA Southeast Regional, their best finish since the program’s inception in 2019-20.  The team is led by third-year head coach Laura Day.
 
“We are excited to be joining the AMC this year,” said Campbellsville’s Head Coach Laura Day. “Last year, our team didn't get to experience a conference championship and all the honors that come along with it, so our dancers are excited to have that opportunity once again this season! This conference is jam packed with talent and we are excited to be part of it!”
 
University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, Ky.) is a member of the Mid-South Conference. The Patriots dance program has qualified for one NAIA National Championship since its inception in 2018-19, finishing in 12th place at the 2022 National Championship. R.J. Conroy enters his fifth season as the Patriots' head coach.
 
“We are excited about the opportunity to join the AMC for Dance,” stated Cumberlands Athletic Director Chris Kraftick. “This is an opportunity for our student-athletes to compete against top-tier competition and look forward to a great season.”
 
Dickinson State University (Dickinson, N.D.) is a member of the North Star Athletic Association.  The Blue Hawks have qualified for the last three NAIA Competitive Cheer Championships, finishing in the top-5 each time and had a school-high five All-Americans last season.  Cebe Schneider enters her sixth year as the Blue Hawks’ head coach.
 
“We are elated to join the AMC conference in competitive cheer,” said Dickinson State Director of Collegiate Athletics Pete Stanton. “We feel this will give our program a great home and a very competitive atmosphere for our student
athletes to be a part of. We look forward to being a member and are excited for the future of competitive cheer.”
 
St. Ambrose University (Davenport, Iowa) is a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.  The Bees are the two-time defending NAIA National Champion in both competitive cheer and competitive dance. First-year coaches Alex Newenham (cheer) and Laurel Ritter (dance) inherit teams that had 10 and 12 All-Americans, respectively, last year.
 
"I would like to commend the American Midwest for extending a branch to the cheer and dance teams in our conference,” said St. Ambrose Director of Athletics Mike Holmes. “Having acted as an independent in cheer last year, it is a strain on a program to scramble on a schedule, in order to create an at-large resume. Clearly, the AMC and its presidents have student experience and welfare at the forefront of their values, and we are honored to be associated with such a grounded group of institutions."
 
University of St. Francis (Joliet, Ill.) is a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.  The Fighting Saints made history this past winter by advancing to the NAIA National Dance Championships for the first time – finishing eighth – and placed a school-record 10 dancers on the NAIA All-America team.  Lily Countryman returns for her third season as the head coach and her fourth season overall in a coaching capacity.  She also is an alumna of the program. 
 
“We’re excited to team with the American Midwest Conference, both Campbellsville and Cumberlands, as well as our peers from the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference to create this conference championship opportunity,” said USF Director of Athletics Dave Laketa.  “It also now allows members of our dance program the chance to vie for all-conference and league academic accolades just like the student-athletes in 17 of our other 19 sports.”
 
Viterbo University (LaCrosse, Wis.) is a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The V-Hawks have made three straight National Championship appearances, finishing seventh twice and ninth in 2024, which saw eight dancers receive All-America status. Anna Luz is the only coach in the program’s history which dates back to 2018-19.
 
“Viterbo Dance is thrilled to join this competitive league,” shared Viterbo Head Coach Anna Luz. “Our team is gearing up to compete against some of the toughest dance teams in the NAIA, right in our own conference. Thank you to the AMC for welcoming us!”
 
About the American Midwest Conference
The American Midwest Conference (AMC) is an NAIA athletic conference with 12 full-member institutions in Arkansas and Missouri and seven single-sport members in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota and Wisconsin.  Founded as the Show-Me Conference in 1986 before becoming the American Midwest Conference in 1994, sponsors championships in 18 sports (women: basketball, competitive dance, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, indoor & outdoor track & field and volleyball; men:  baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, indoor & outdoor track & field and wrestling; coed: competitive cheer).