Competitive Pom/Dance 1/23/2020 3:58:00 PM

Stars begin 2019-20 in Friends Duals

OCU performs 6:34 p.m., 8:42 p.m. Friday

WICHITA, Kan. – Oklahoma City University performs for the first time in its competitive pom/dance season 6 p.m. Friday in the Friends Day of Duals at the Garvey Center.
Oklahoma City takes the floor twice Friday night. The Stars will perform 6:34 p.m. and 8:42 p.m. Friday with their first performance starting the night. Watch the Friends Duals live.
The Stars will be competing against five teams Friday night. Baker (Kan.), Bethany (Kan.), Bethel (Kan.), Kansas Wesleyan and York (Neb.) will also perform in the Friends Duals.
OCU collected fifth place in the NAIA Championships last March in Davenport, Iowa. The Stars made the top six for the sixth consecutive year in the NAIA Championships. OCU took the 2014 NAIA dance championship as well as four National Dance Alliance titles.
"They are ready to showcase what we've been working on," OCU coach Tasha Hinex said. "I have a fun group this year, and we're really focusing on not losing track of that."

TOP RETURNERS

• The Stars bring back six all-Americans. MaKenzi Fox and Lauren Kysela took first-team all-American accolades, while Megan Berning, Caroline Cannedy and Andrea Strickler were honorable-mention all-Americans in 2018-19
• Fox, a senior from Moore, Okla., and Kysela, a senior from Moore, Okla., own three all-American honors. Berning, a junior from Shawnee Mission, Kan.; Cannedy, a junior from Oklahoma City; and Strickler, a senior from Olathe, Kan., became two-time all-Americans
• The 2019-20 squad features six seniors – Fox, Kysela, Strickler, Talor Kline, Blake Sauceda and Bethany Stanley

MEET THE COACH

• Tasha Hinex guided OCU to the 2014 NAIA national title as well as four NDA crowns
• Hinex has directed the Stars to a national runner-up showing in 2018 and three NAIA championship qualifying group titles in 10 years as coach
• Hinex is the only coach the OCU pom/dance program has had

MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR

• Oklahoma City's senior night and national showing and preview will be Feb. 13 during halftime of the men's basketball game at Abe Lemons Arena
• The Stars host the NAIA Southwest Qualifying Group Championships at 1 p.m. Feb. 29 at Abe Lemons Arena. OCU has topped the standings in the last three qualifiers the Stars have danced in. The Stars will aim to qualify for the NAIA Championships on March 13-14 in Davenport, Iowa
• OCU concludes its season in the American Dance/Drill Team Collegiate Championships on March 28 in Denton, Texas

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Players Mentioned

Megan Berning: Junior

Caroline Cannedy: 5' 1"; Junior

MaKenzi Fox: 5' 3"; Senior

Lauren Kysela: 5' 4"; Senior

Blake Sauceda: 5' 11"; Senior

Bethany Stanley: 5' 6"; Senior

Andrea Strickler: 5' 1"; Senior

Talor Kline: Senior

Players Mentioned

Megan Berning
: Junior

Caroline Cannedy
: 5' 1"; Junior

MaKenzi Fox
: 5' 3"; Senior

Lauren Kysela
: 5' 4"; Senior

Blake Sauceda
: 5' 11"; Senior

Bethany Stanley
: 5' 6"; Senior

Andrea Strickler
: 5' 1"; Senior

Talor Kline
: Senior