ANAHEIM, Calif. – Hope International Dance proudly represented the NAIA on the national stage at the 2026 USA Spirit Nationals & Collegiate Championships, competing in the 4-Year College Hip Hop Division II/III. In a highly competitive field, HIU delivered a powerful performance and earned an outstanding third place national finish.
On the preliminary day, Hope faced a strong lineup of programs, including:
- Arizona Christian
- Cal State Dominguez Hills
- California Lutheran
- Colorado State Pueblo
- Southern Oregon
- Sonoma State
- Gustavus Adolphus College
Against seven talented teams, Hope International advanced to finals in 3rd place, standing alongside Cal State Dominguez Hills, Arizona Christian and California Lutheran.
In the final round, the team rose to the occasion, maintaining their placement and securing third in the nation. This achievement solidifies Hope International University's standing as one of the top programs in the division and marks the team as nationally ranked 3rd in Division II/III Hip Hop.
Notably, Hope International continues to demonstrate its competitive excellence as an NAIA program competing in a traditionally harder division, showcasing the program's growth, talent, and ability to perform at the highest levels of collegiate dance.
This result reflects the athletes' dedication, discipline, and relentless work ethic, as well as the continued momentum of HIU Dance on the national stage.
