Kaffenberger, Gundacker named NAIA co-Dancers of the Year
Josie Kaffenberger and Sara Gundacker were named the 2025 NAIA Competitive co-Dancers of the Year following the Nfinity NAIA Competitive Dance Championships. The two posted the top scores in the tryout process to claim the honor.
Kaffenberger, also the 2024 NAIA Dancer of the Year, was named the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Dancer Performer of the Year earlier this season. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native has also earned First Team All-American honors in each of her first two years at St. Ambrose.
Gundacker, a junior from Robins, Iowa, was named a First Team All-American for the third straight year.
St. Ambrose led the NAIA with seven first team selections and nine total All-Americans. Joining Kaffenberger and Gundacker on the first team were Maddy Barnes, Lexi Crook, Sydnie Offermann, Grace Sheldon and Leah Zeimet. Shea Denahy and Maggie Schreiber were named to the second team.
All-Americans are determined by the national championship judges. The top 14 scores (including ties) are First-Team All-Americans, the next 14 (including ties) are on the second team, followed by the final 14 (including ties) on the third team.
Kaffenberger and Gundacker nearly helped St. Ambrose to a National three-peat as the SAU Dance Team narrowly missed winning its third consecutive NAIA Competitive Dance National Championship. St. Ambrose settled for second place, finishing just 0.16 points behind 2025 champion Midland.