General Information
Welcome to the home of champions where students push themselves to the limit on the mat, at the game, and in the classroom. We appreciate your interest and wish you luck while deciding on the best dance program and university for you!
Dance Team has been a part of the SFA Spirit landscape for over 25 years and serves as one of the ambassadors for spirit and Lumberjack pride at SFA. Made up of two squads; the Pom Squad and Jack Attack, these students participate in Lumberjack football, volleyball and basketball games as well as compete at the NDA Collegiate National Championships. Like the teams that they support, the SFA Spirit creed is to work hard and be the best. Both are nationally ranked and competitive.
Each squad has 25-40 dancers, but teams to vary in size from year to year. The Pom Squad performs at all home football games and men's basketball games. There are also a few away football games that selected Pom Squad members will attend. Jack Attack performs at all home volleyball games and women's basketball. SFA Spirit Squad members are there for homecoming, in the battle for Chief Caddo, and in the community. They bleed purple and know that a victory may be up to them.
The SFA Dance Teams are not only a collection of some of the best dancers from all over the country that make up amazing teams, but it is also a collection of individuals that range from current team members to alumni, that consider the program like family. So if you are ready to be a part of something special, look at trying out for one of our teams.
If you are interested in trying out for one of our teams please complete the Recruit Info Form. This form will collect some information that will help us stay in touch with you during the season.
If you have a video of you dancing (Pom, Jazz, Hip Hop, Leaps and Turns, etc.) send a link to maplejv@sfasu.edu or you can mail a DVD to:
Stephen F. Austin State University
Office of Student Affairs - Dance Teams
Attn: T.J. Maple
P.O. Box 13021 - SFA Station
Nacogdoches, Texas 75962
SIDE NOTE FOR POTENTIAL DANCE TEAM CANDIDATES
It may be in the best interest of potential dance team members to send in preliminary videos of skills so that the SFA Coaching Staff can provide feedback on the direction candidates should take, what areas to work on, and improvements that need to be made specifically before actual tryouts. These videos will not be judged as tryout videos.
A Brief History of the SFA Dance Teams
The SFA Pom Squad was created in 1984 by an SFA Student. The squad was formed to cheer on the Lumberjacks and perform at Men's Basketball games. With the hopes of becoming a serious organization and a competitive team, the Pom Squad began attending summer camp and preparing for their first collegiate national championship in 1986. After placing second in 1992, the team pressed forward with the goal of bringing a National Championship to SFA. The SFA Pom Squad won its first NDA Collegiate National Championship in 1993 under Dr. Peggy Scott. Four more titles would follow under her direction (1994, 1995, 1996, and 1998). In 2009, under T.J. Maple, SFA Pom won its sixth NDA Collegiate National Championship. The Pom Squad has also won seven ADTS Collegiate Championships (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011). Also in 2009, SFA introduced the Jack Attack Hip Hop Team to the dance teams program. SFA is the first and only university to date to have a separate Hip Hop only team in addition to the dance team. Jack Attack also won the ADTS Collegiate Hip Hop Division in 2010 and 2011, placed 4th in Division I Hip Hop at NDA Collegiate Nationals in 2011, and winning their first NDA Collegiate National Championship in 2012.SFA Dance Teams Coaching Staff
T.J. Maple - Coordinator of Spirit Teams/Head Dance Coach Educational Background: Stephen F. Austin State University, 2008, B.S. Office: BPSC 1.203 Phone: 936.468.1604 E-mail: maplejv@sfasu.edu