UTEP Dance Team wins national championship at NDA College Nationals

Ximena Cordero, Editor-in-chief • April 14, 2026

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) announced on April 11, that the UTEP Dance Team won first place in the Spirit Rally DIA category at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida.

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In a statement to UTEP, Director of Spirit Operations and Head Cheer Coach Bianca Marquez said:

“Their heart, grit, and passion say everything about who they are. This team truly represents the SPIRIT of UTEP! Picks Up and Go Miners!”

According to UTEP, this is the dance team’s second national championship in four years and the first championship under Head Dance Coach Crystal Ortiz who stepped into the role on Aug. 11, 2025.

Ximena Cordero is the editor-in-chief for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected].edu and on LinkedIn @ximenacordero

About the Contributors

Ximena Cordero, Editor-in-Chief

Ximena Cordero is a junior at the University of Texas at El Paso majoring in multimedia journalism with a minor in political science. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Prospector, She is also the membership chair for the UTEP chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). She is a former Puente News Student Collaborative Fellow with KVIA ABC-7. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in political investigative journalism focusing on the Borderland.

Mia Colmenero, Layout Editor

Mia Colmenero is a junior majoring in multimedia journalism. She is the layout editor for The Prospector. After graduating she wants to pursue a higher education in getting her master’s in communications and work as an investigative journalist.