ST. LOUIS – The Saint Xavier University competitive cheer and dance teams have joined the American Midwest Conference (AMC) as affiliate members for the 2025-26 season. The Cougars, along with three other schools join the conference this season: Bismarck State College (N.D.) in just competitive dance, Langston University (Okla.) in just competitive cheer and Oklahoma City University, who will compete in both cheer and dance with SXU.
With the addition of the four programs, the AMC now has eight teams in both competitive cheer and dance.
Both cheer and dance:
- Columbia College (Mo.)
- Cottey College (Ark.)
- Oklahoma City
- Saint Xavier
- St. Ambrose University (Iowa)
Cheer only:
- Dickinson State University (N.D.)
- Langston
- University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.)
Dance only:
- Bismarck State
- University of St. Francis (Ill.)
- Viterbo University (Wis.)
The Cougars join a strong conference with the AMC claiming five NAIA Cheer National Championships and four NAIA Dance Championships, including the Fighting Bees from St. Ambrose, who have won two consecutive red banners in competitive cheer, as well as the last two NAIA Dance titles, and three of the last four.
Athletic Director
Ken Alston had this to say about SXU joining the AMC: "Saint Xavier is excited to learn that we have been accepted into the AMC for Cheer and Dance. The opportunities and student experience that will be gained from our two teams joining this conference will be amazing. I'm excited for the university and for our student-athletes."
The 2026 AMC Conference Championships for both competitive cheer and dance will be hosted by Columbia College on March 6-7, 2026 in Columbia, Mo.
