OMAHA, Neb. – April Allen is excited to see where her team will be at the end of the season.

The College of Saint Mary Dance Team opens competition this week with a dual at Doane University on Wednesday and then a triangular with Concordia University and Hastings College on Saturday.

"The first two competitions this week will be a challenging start as two of the three teams made it to nationals in the 2022-2023 season," Allen said. "However, I expect we will improve our scores at each event and that the Flames Dance Team will be a strong competitor in the GPAC by the end of the season."

The Flames finished ninth in the Great Plains Athletic Conference last year and return key performers in Elisabeth Weatherly and Carrie Keating. Allen expects Keating's spotlight in jazz and Weatherly's turn solo to be two of the squad's strengths this season. She said other strengths for the team this year will be the jazz portion of CSM's competition routine and also sharpness in the pom section.

Allen said the squad has been working hard to prepare for this week and that she's seeing a lot of great things in practices so far.

"This team is great at collaboration," she said. "They are all very positive and encourage one another to do their best. I expect us to be in the top half of the GPAC."