Competing at the Family Arena Saturday for the Missouri Dance Team Association state championships, area teams brought home hardware.
Borgia’s Starry Knights captured the Class 2A overall state title, beating Westminster Christian and Smithville.
It was the seventh state title for the Starry Knights. They also won in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
“Our program has had a lot of support from our school and student body this year and for us to bring home another state championship was just an amazing feeling,” Borgia Coach Sherri Roberts said.
Borgia won the dance category and finished second in hip hop.
Washington placed third overall in Class 4A. Rockwood Summit won while Staley placed second.
Washington won the kick competition and placed second in poms. It was the third year in a row that the Jaywalkers have won the kick category.
Also competing among area schools was Pacific, which finished third in poms and fourth in mix in Class 3A.
“This year was a bit different for us in that we decided to compete in the hip hop category,” said Roberts. “Typically we compete in the mix and dance category. It was so fun to compete in hip hop this year; it was a really fun challenge for the team and our student body really seemed to like the new style.”
Borgia’s team members were seniors Elizabeth Buhr, Sydney Skubic, Julia Leesmann, Hannah Post and Hannah R. Holtmeyer. Buhr and Skubic were captains.
“One thing that was exciting is that the five seniors we have on the team have won the state title for each year they have been on the team,” Roberts said. “They were very emotional.”
Juniors on the team were Andrea Feldmann and Abby Wurdack. The lone sophomore was Hannah I. Holtmeyer while freshmen were Holly Brinker, Kate Haberberger and Alexis Roberts.
“We even had the Borgia cheerleaders in the stands cheering us on wearing shirts that they made which read ‘C-Squad Loves D-Team.’ That is pretty awesome!” Roberts said. “We are already looking forward to next season and hoping to continue the tradition.”
Washington’s Jaywalkers picked up first in kick and second in poms in its two categories, but ended up third overall.
“The Jaywalkers did an excellent job,” said Washington Coach Ashley Deckelman. “The girls have put many hours in since last June toward achieving our goals of a state championship. We have placed first in the kick division three years in a row. Receiving third place overall was an amazing achievement. We feel so proud of what we have accomplished and the level of dancing we have brought this team to.”
Jaywalkers were Amber Lenzen, Mandy Mueller, Lea Bierbaum, Michaela Edmond, Payton Morris, Lauren Bleckman, Destiny McNew, Jaimie Kuchem, Tara Bennight, McKenzie Stallman, Kersten Mitchell, Devon Shipley, Catherine Riefschnieder, Cheyenne Parks, Kandice Luck, Ashley Stettes, Olivia Edmond and Gaby Knight.
Pacific’s team members were Karissa Archambault, Nikolina Best, Stephanie Borcherding, Brittney Franek, Hannah Graf, Alissa Green, Elaine Griffin, Kristen Hill, Taylor Hill, Charla Jackson, Brianna Murray, Brittany Stanfill, Alex Vogel, Ashley Whitmore and Jeanina Gruendler.
