GUNNISON, Colo.  Western Colorado cheer coach Anna Porter will lead a reinstatement of the Mountaineer Dance Team for the 2025-26 academic year.

Originally created as a club sport in 2016, the dance team went on an indefinite hiatus in 2023. But Porter will bring the team back to work side by side with the cheer team and Mad Jack mascot to form the Mountaineer Spirt Squad.

"I am so excited to start this new chapter for WCU dance," said Porter. "The club dance team was such a great addition to game days, and their presence has been missed. I am looking forward to creating a close collaboration between the cheer and dance team, and I know that the entire campus will be able to feel the energy that the new, expanded spirit squad will bring."

Porter plans for the dance team to perform exciting routines at halftime of home football games and at many Mountaineer basketball home games.

"The Spirit Squad will play an integral role in promoting school spirit and pride at events, and in contributing to an exciting game-day atmosphere," added Porter.

Information about joining the WCU dance team can be found on the cheerleading web page, and interested dancers may also email Porter for more information.