BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — The LIU spirit teams combined to capture a national championship in January. And as they return to campus for the fall semester, the cheerleading and dance teams and mascot Finley were greeted with rings to commemorate the achievement.

With family and friends on hand inside Pratt Recreation Center, chief of alumni engagement and athletics advancement William E. Martinov Jr. presented the student-athletes with the rings on Sunday afternoon.
 
The program included the 2022-23 cheer and dance captains addressing their supporters.

"As we wear these rings, let them serve as a reminder of the incredible teamwork and determination that brought us to this moment," cheer captain Caleigh Kellerman told the crowd to applause. "Together we have overcome challenges, pushed through our limits and made LIU history."

The combined Sharks team won the Open Spirit Game Day division at the UCA/UDA national championships in January at ESPN's Wide World of Sports.

LIU produced a final-round raw score of 184.1333, topping runner-up St. John's (181.7333) and third-place South Dakota (179.5333).

It marked the first time the LIU cheerleading and dance teams performed together in the competition, along with mascot Finley, as part of the new open program competition.