DES MOINES, IOWA - Grand View hosted the 2026 Heart of America Conference Championships this weekend. The Vikings put on an outstanding performance, posting a 95.17 preliminary round, a 96.21 Final round, and a 95.95 total weighted score. This performance had Grand View top the podium for the third straight Heart of America Conference title, and a ticket into the NAIA Natinal Dance Championships. The Vikings finished first in a field of eight schools, separating themselves by over five points on the second place team. The Vikings brought home All-Conference awards as well. Grand View earned 9 All-Conference Selections, the Heart Dancer of the Year, Addison Alekiejczyk, and the Heart Coach of the Year,
Kelsey Nichols. A fanstanstic season for the Viking Dance team and well deserved honors.
Coach KK & Nikki Van Raalte - We are incredibly proud of the individual All-Conference honors these young women earned — they worked hard for that recognition and they earned every bit of it. But what means the most to us as their coach is what they accomplished together. They fight through the hard moments with a level of grit. Their willingness to keep pushing forward, to keep believing in each other, is something we will never forget. We are so excited to keep putting in the work as we set our sights on nationals — this group is hungry, and we can't wait to see what they do next.
DANCE ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS
Addison Aleksiejckzyk | First Team
Leah Smith | First Team
Leah Biensen | First Team
Delaney Baird | First Team
Lilly Jones | First Team
Julianna Grace Richardson | Second Team
Alexi Van Utrecht | Second Team
Ava Guy | Second Team
Jenna Davenport | Honorable Mention
HEART DANCER OF THE YEAR | ADDISON ALEKSIEJCKZYK
HEART COACH OF THE YEAR | KELSEY NICHOLS
UP NEXT
Grand View Dance will compete at the 10th Annual NAIA National Cheer and Dance Championship on March 27th and 28th. That will take place in Topeka, Kansas.
