HELENA, Mont. - Both the Carroll College Cheer and Dance teams will begin their second competitive seasons in their respective program's histories on Saturday, as they head to Fullerton, Calif. for the Royal Rumble Invitational hosted by Hope International.

Following successful inaugural seasons in 2025, both the Carroll Cheer and Dance teams will look to build on the foundations and continue to grow in 2026.

The Carroll Dance team enters the 2026 season under the direction of second-year Head Coach Faith Edmister, and features a mix of returning talent and fresh faces. Emma Boharski, a member of last year's first competitive team, has transitioned to a coaching role, assisting Edmister with the second-year program.

The 2026 roster features five freshmen, paired with four returners and one former cheerleader, all looking to continue the advancement of the budding program. 

The Fighting Saints earned their first ever win last February here at the PE Center, picking up a 73.45-70.1 victory over Lewis-Clark State in a dual, and hope to add to the win total this season.

Carroll will have four opportunities on the calendar this year, beginning with the Royal Rumble Invitational this weekend in California. On February 7, they will host the Halo Cup here in Helena, before heading to Dickinson, N.D. for a dual with Bismarck State two weeks later. They'll wrap up the '26 season with a return trip to Lewiston, Idaho to compete with the Warriors of LC State in March.

On the Cheer side of the action, the Saints are under the direction of first-year Head Coach, Brooklyn Purcell. A recent alumnus, Purcell brings plenty of energy and excitement to a program near and dear to her heart.

Much like the Dance team, the Carroll Cheer squad features a solid mix of veterans and newcomers alike. Seven freshmen will join nine returners on the all-female 2026 roster. 

This weekend will be a busy one for the Fighting Saints, as they will have four separate competitions on Saturday as part of the Royal Rumble Invitational - a tri-comp against both Hope International and Simpson, followed by duals with both institutions, and a second three-way competition to wrap up the day. All four events will be scored separately, giving Carroll a good measure on where they stand in their second season of competition.

A live stream of Saturday's competitions will be available HERE.