The girls are energetic. They’re talented. They’re fun. And when it comes time for me to pick my favorite N.C. State pep team, the choice is easy.

Give me the dance team.

When scheduling stories for this week, I wanted to write a column saying how much I loved the dance team, and, in my opinion, how much more I liked it than the cheerleading squad. But, after angering a couple cheerleaders a year ago with an anti-cheerleading column — which led my old boss to telling me the squad was going to hold practice outside my house just to prove a point, but it didn’t show — I thought it would be fair to have another writer create a pro-cheerleading column to run alongside this one.

So I asked the “big-name” sports writers in the office who they’d pick.

Clark Leonard? Dance team. Nick Jeffreys? Dance team (yes, THAT Nick Jeffreys). Josh Harrell? Dance. Dennis Burton? J. Mike? Dance. Dance.

Well, darn.

But the next day, Jeffreys came to the cheerleading team’s side and said he would write it. He said he didn’t think about it enough, and he had changed his mind.

OK Jeffreys, let’s duel.

On the most basic level, the dance team gets my nod because, unlike the cheerleading squad, it quietly becomes part of the game. It doesn’t create 4,000-feet tall human mountains, screaming through megaphones, craving attention. The dance team smiles, and in sweet, sweet harmony with the band, moves to the music from Section 113. For the dance team, football games are about the entire Carter-Finley experience — not the dance team itself.

And perhaps its selflessness has cost the dance team. Until this year, it was stored, packaged with the band far away from the student section — only allowed out for a quick half-time sneak peak of basketball season. Meanwhile, the cheerleading squad was — and still is for that matter — right in front of Section 7 and 8, obstructing views, cheering while the football team is on offense. It’s great that this year the team is down with the band in front of Section 113.

But I’ve never heard the dance team complain. None of its members has called and asked me to pick up its cause. I like that. I like the quiet, humble underdog.

Off the field, the dance team appears to hold itself to a high standard, as I’m sure the cheerleading squad does as well. Collectively, the team has a GPA of 3.5, according to co-captain Amanda Ladd. And, as a club sport, it’s forced to raise most of its money on its own. According to Carolina King, everyone is required to raise $800 to be on the team.

I want to clarify one thing. I don’t think the cheerleading team is without purpose or doesn’t deserve praise. I don’t think the cheerleading team doesn’t give 110 percent, and I’m sure they’ve got lots of injuries and blood to prove it. I’m just saying I’m a dance team guy. I like the fun, energetic, humble dance team.

Tell Tanner and Nick which team you like better at sports@technicianonline.com.