Story provided by KC Smurthwaite with the USC Upstate Athletics Department
The Hodge is going to be a lot louder and more entertaining this fall with the recent additions to Spartan Athletics’ offerings, including competitive cheer and dance.
Announced by Director of Athletics Matt Martin, the two varsity programs have hit the ground running, with tryouts, training and national competition already on the horizon.
“We have great things happening at USC Upstate, and the addition of these two varsity sports will help us keep the forward momentum we already have,” said Martin. “I’ve been around programs that have cheer and dance, and they are great for student-athletes, for the fan experience, and for campus energy.”
The programs will be led by coaches Chad Butler and Laura Martin, both of whom are arriving from nearby Limestone, where they had tremendous success.
For Coach Laura Martin, the focus is on building a positive team culture that translates to national success.
“When I got to Limestone, I had high expectations, but I also focused heavily on creating an uplifting environment where athletes felt inspired to work hard for each other,” she said. “With this opportunity at Upstate, I’m committed to building a program where the bond we share as a team becomes our foundation.”
Coach Martin’s approach to choreography and style is equally team-focused. “I draw a lot of inspiration from the dancers themselves—what they’re passionate about, what lights them up,” she said. “Dance is a collective experience, and I always want to keep learning and valuing others’ ideas.”
Coach Chad Butler, who will lead the cheer side, was drawn to Upstate by the potential he saw in the region.
“Spartanburg and the surrounding area are an untapped market when it comes to cheer talent,” said Butler. “USC Upstate is a growing and thriving institution, and I’m so excited to be a Spartan.”
As for the type of athletes he hopes to recruit? “Hardworking, dedicated and coachable,” he said. “We’ve got high expectations for the program and we plan to meet and exceed them.”
Tryouts for both teams are scheduled for August 23 and August 24 in the Spartan Rec Center, and both coaches encourage interested students to reach out via email or by following them on Instagram: @upstatedanceteam and @upstate_cheer.
With national competition in both the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) and The College Classic Championship on deck, the new programs promise to bring another level to Spartan home games.
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