MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University dance team earned the program's first-ever College Jazz Regional Championship Title on Saturday at the DX AmeriCup Dance Championship hosted in Minneapolis. The Wildcats finished with a score of 254.5 out of 300 marking the second regional title in program history. 

St. Kate's topped a competitive field that included UW-Madison Dance Elite and St. Norbert College in the College Jazz competition. The routine also received the Judges' Standout Award for extreme emotion and heart on the stage and was second in the Collegiate Grand Champion Results, which evaluates every college routine across all divisions in the event. 

The Wildcats also competed in the College Hip Hop Regional Championship finishing as the runner-up with a score of 246.4 behind the UW-Madison Dance Elite team. 

St. Catherine was recognized with a DX Academic Excellence Award for team cumulative GPA and Hannah Smerillo was honored with a DX Distinguished Leadership Award. 

St. Kate's will host their annual Dance Showcase this Saturday, January 31 at 6 pm and continue to focus on their upcoming national competition this spring in Florida.