DAYTONA, Fla. (WMDJ) — The University of Pikeville dance team has captured its first national championship.

The Bears won the NAIA Jazz Division at the NCA and NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship on Friday. The title run came in unusual fashion, with only two competitors representing the team.

Twin sisters Alexis and Aliya Osborne, both from Prestonsburg, led UPike to the championship, finishing with a score of 85.3143. The performance secured the win over the University of the Cumberlands, which placed second at 82.4857. St. Thomas (Fla.) finished third.

Head coach Hanna Case, a former UPike dancer and alum, has led the program since 2018 after previously serving as an assistant coach. Case is also currently a teacher at Betsy Layne Elementary School. 

UPike entered finals with a narrow lead and expanded it with their final routine to clinch the title.

The win marks a milestone for the program, which had previously finished as runner-up last year but had not reached the top until now.

*Photo courtesy of University of Pikeville Athletics