Prescott’s pom and jazz dance Regional championships and Ellsworth’s hip hop Regional championship were not the only dance success stories Saturday at DC Everest, as EPC and Spring Valley …
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Prescott’s pom and jazz dance Regional championships and Ellsworth’s hip hop Regional championship were not the only dance success stories Saturday at DC Everest, as EPC and Spring Valley are also headed to State.
Ellsworth
Ellsworth’s weekend was an all-around great one, as the team won D3 hip hop, took fourth in D3 jazz and fifth in D5 pom. It was the first year teams were allowed to bring three routines to Regionals, and Ellsworth qualified in all three.
“They’re just a really fun group of girls, and they get along really well, and they’re kind of silly,” Coach Angie McHardy said. “They were just ready to dance. They were anxious for it. It was just a really good vibe yesterday.”
Additionally, Addie Sabby and Savanna Hoyer finished second in the state for D3 duets and Isabelle Pechacek is an all-State finalist. The solo and ensemble system works a bit differently than the teams, as they send in videos to be judged. Soloists can move on to perform at State while ensemble placements are announced at Regionals.
A reason for the strong weekend was the energy the team was showing.
“They’re very supportive of one another, there was a very good energy that way,” Coach Alyssa Pechacek said.
While team expectations are high, the three state qualifying performances even exceeded those expectations.
“It’s so exciting. So fun,” McHardy said. “Our whole goal for the weekend was we just want to qualify. To get to go to State is so exciting.”
To perform at State, the coaches said the team needs to keep the energy, have low stress and, most of all, have fun.
The Ellsworth team is a fairly new one, being recreated about a decade ago after a hiatus. Through the years, the Panthers have done nothing but improve.
“I just want to build this legacy that Ellsworth has this awesome dance team and it keeps going,” McHardy said. “So it’s good to see the growth and potential it keeps having.”
EPC
Elmwood/Plum City made State for the first time as a combined unit, placing sixth of 17 teams in D6 pom. EPC Coach Melissa Andrle said while she cannot confirm, she believes it may be the first time Plum City or Elmwood has qualified for State dance throughout the schools’ histories separately as well.
“I believe this is the first time ever that Plum City and Elmwood has made it to State for dance,” Andrle said. “This is only the second year that we have offered a team for EPC.”
Lizzie Henn is headed to State as a soloist, and Andrle had nothing but good things to say about her. Henn is the team’s most experienced dancer, guiding some of the less experienced dancers to become a strong core.
“It’s been special because we have Lizzie who is our very experienced dancer and she has kind of pushed the other girls to dance at that next level.”
Andrle hopes the team making State can signal to young girls in the community that they can become some of the best and going to State is within their sights.
“We did a really good job at Regionals having a lot of energy, more energy than they’ve shown in the past,” Andrle said. “Dancing just full out and hopefully getting a couple points more so we can maybe try to level up.”
Prescott
Prescott performed to its usual lofty standards in D5 pom and D3 jazz. Seniors Alissa Zerneke, Lucy Lamb, MaKenna Williamson, Claire Schommer, Claire Hince and Evelyn Nance will all be competing with solos at State.
“We always tell them just 1% better than the last. We felt that the girls had delivered their strongest performance yet this last weekend, and we know they’re prepared to take on an even higher level next weekend,” Co-Coach Brianna Shirley said.
Coming off of the Regional championships, the Cardinals are seeking a balance between savoring the titles and not staying complacent.
“Saturday was just overall an incredible day for everyone, and something the girls have worked so, so hard for,” Shirley said. “We definitely are taking it in, but we’re also letting it fuel their fire and not letting it put them on pause.”
With just one week separating Regionals from State, Shirley said it is both an advantage and disadvantage for the team. The short break leaves little time for improvement, but it also helps them stay in the performance groove.
The solos take place Friday between 4-4:30 p.m. followed by jazz at 5:59 p.m. and pom at 7:50 p.m.
“We would love to see as many fans as possible cheering them on,” Shirley said. “These girls have put in countless hours and hard work to reach the State competition, so they deserve the most loud, enthusiastic crowd out there.”
Spring Valley
The Spring Valley Vallettes are headed to State, finishing ninth in D6 pom. It’s the team goal to get to State, and they felt a year’s worth of work paid off.
“That’s always our ultimate goal, for sure, to make it to State,” Head Coach Tiffany Schultz said. “We work really hard all season to go to competitions and take the judge feedback and make our dances the best that they can be and try to help our dancers get to their strongest point individually and as a team. So, when we make it to State it’s just kind of the culmination of all of our efforts that means a lot to us.”
Looking ahead to State, the Vallettes are aiming to focus on themselves and perform to their standards.
“For us, success will just be how we feel coming off of the floor,” Schultz said. “We’re not so worried about what place we get, it’s more of the pride we have in ourselves.”
State is at the La Crosse Center with D5/6 pom, D3 open (jazz, hip hop, kick) and collegiate pom on Friday and D1-4 pom, D1-2 open and collegiate jazz/hip hop Saturday.