Performing in front of judges and parents of opposing team members may be intimidating: the stares, the stage fright, the anticipation.
But for the dance team, those fears were proven irrelevant when they won the Southwestern Conference Championship.
“After three years of hard work, we were finally able to win,” senior Leah Deconcini said. “It felt really rewarding, it felt great.”
The team also won championship at the in-school regionals on Jan 6. Having placed first in all their categories, they were able to advance to the championships.
The team is ecstatic their hard work has paid off, according to senior Kylie Johnson, being that the team has put in extra hours into practicing for these competitions.
“The mood has been really good,” said Johnson. “We’re all uplifting each other and being super supportive towards each other.”
Alongside the team’s recognition at regionals, junior Addison Keller was awarded the Rising Star medal, an award only handed out to a few dancers in the conference who stand out to the judges.
“Being awarded the Rising Star award was a really awesome feeling,” Keller said. “It was nice to feel that the hard work I’ve put into dance was acknowledged.”
Even though the team received these accolades at the regional conference, they were even more nervous about the Southwestern Conference.
“It’s more anxiety ridden since the Southwestern Conference [Championship] is with schools that are all around us and we compete against people in different classes,” Johnson said.
Once the team won the championship, those fears were put to rest.
“I screamed,” junior Lucy Schapman said. “I was really excited… there was a little bit of crying, and it’s just really crazy because we worked so hard for it.”
The team is now eligible to perform at sectionals, where their results will possibly give them a chance to preform at IHSA.
“This year, we are hoping to make it to state and hopefully make it to day two,” Johnson said. “All of us are really excited, and we are hoping for a good season.”