SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate Director of Athletics and Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Martin has officially announced the addition of competitive dance as a varsity program within the Spartan Athletics Department. The program will begin competition this fall under the direction of Head Coach Laura Martin.
 

"It's an exciting time at USC Upstate, and the addition of a competitive dance program is another step forward as we expand our athletic and campus offerings," said Martin. "Dance brings so much energy to our fan experience and is an amazing outlet for talented student-athletes. We're thrilled to have Coach Laura Martin lead and build this program."
 

Coach Martin joins the Spartans from Limestone University, where she helped guide the Saints to two top-five finishes at The College Classic National Championship. She brings a strong foundation in choreography, team culture, and recruitment strategy, having more than doubled the team size in one year at Limestone.
 

"It's an incredible honor to bring competitive dance to USC Upstate and step into the role as head coach," said Laura Martin. "I am looking forward to building a strong team that represents the Spartans at the national level and within the Upstate community. Thank you to Matt Martin, Chancellor Harris, and the Upstate leadership team for allowing me to have this opportunity!"
 

The Spartan dance team will compete nationally through the College Classic National Championship, with tryouts scheduled for Aug 23, 5 pm and Aug 24, 2 pm. All interested student-athletes are encouraged to reach out to Coach Martin directly via email at LM124@uscupstate.edu. 
 

Follow @UpstateSpartans on social media or @UpstateDanceTeam on Instagram for updates, and those interested in supporting the new dance program can contribute by Clicking Here.