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Holt High School Dance Team Has A History-Making Season
This year, the Wentzville Holt High School (HHS) dance team brought home first-place finishes and accolades, and was the first team in HHS history to capture a state title in dance. The team also set new traditions, starting the first annual Wentzville Holt Dance Regional competition. The following is a recap of the 2022-23 dance season across the Wentzville School District.
HHS dance team’s work started long before school was in session at the Dance Team Union (DTU) Camp at the University of Iowa in July. The team walked away with the highest rating on all their individual and team routines and earned the Stellar Sportsmanship Award and the Squeaky Clean award for performing a very polished routine.
HHS danced in the homecoming parade, back-to-school welcome celebration, assemblies, and more this year. They also welcomed almost 200 up-and-coming dancers to the annual Fall Holt Dance Team Clinic.
Their competition season started in December, starting strong by earning first place in 3A Hip Hop and Pom at the Kansas City Classic. Additionally, HHS received a Judges' Speciality Award for Outstanding Showmanship for their Hip Hop routine. The first-place finishes were far from over after that; they went on to receive first place with a Superior Rating in Division 4 Hip Hop, Poms, and Overall at the Farmington Invitational. They earned the additional awards of a Judges' Speciality Award for Most Memorable Routine for Hip Hop & the Sweepstakes Award for Highest Scoring Routine at the competition. Senior Mariah Schulz earned first place in senior solos and junior Ava Ruble earned third place in junior solos during this competition as well.
HHS may be our oldest high school, but that doesn’t mean they don't have new tricks. The dance team was able to show their ability to start new traditions this year with the kick-off of the first-ever Annual Wentzville Holt Dance Regional on Jan. 7. HHS welcomed over thirty-five dance teams from around Missouri and saw over 350 dancers in attendance. Needless to say, it was a show-stopping performance by the dance team and faculty at HHS to bring it all together.
The team wasn’t finished yet, as they were off to the DTU Nationals in Orlando shortly after this momentous occasion. Their season of hard work was leading up to their performances on the DTU stage. They were dressed to impress, one costume even including red-bottom shoes, it's hard to imagine not feeling like a confident dancer in those. HHS earned second place in Small Varsity Hip Hop and eighth place in Small Varsity Pom.
HHS still wasn't done bringing home the gold. After all their success this season, they added Division 4 State Champions to the list, the first dance State Title in school history. The team earned 1st Place in Division 4 Pom & 1st Place in Division 4 Hip Hop, which secured their division title. Additionally, Ava Ruble was awarded 6th Place in Junior Solos, and Mariah Schulz was awarded 5th Place in Senior Solos. Quite the photo finish to their history-making season.
“This was an exciting year for the Holt Dance team as we made history in more than one way! We are so grateful for all of the support of our community, friends, and family. We couldn't have done it without them.” said Head Coach Hayley Garr.
- All-State Honors
- Team - State Champions - Division 4
- Mariah Schulz - Senior Solo - Fifth Place
- Ava Ruble - Junior Solo - Sixth Place
- Academic All-State Honors
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Shelby Brock
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Ava Conway
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Mady Gaudy
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Adirah Heppermann
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Jillian Paddock
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Ava Ruble
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Mariah Schulz
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Hannah Shorts
HHS’s Mariah Schulz committed to continuing her education and dancing career at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
(Photos provided by Coach Hayley Garr & d-squared Designs)
Liberty High School (LHS) Belles dance team had a great season both on the field and during competition season. The Belles started their season by earning their bid for nationals during dance camp at the University of Health Science and Pharmacy, the team secured a third-place home routine and a Superior rating. Additionally, the Belles were able to perform at the back-to-school kick-off, WSD Homecoming Parade, and during a KMOV broadcast with Superintendent Dr. Danielle S. Tormala. LHS also welcomed nearly 200 elementary and middle school students to the annual Future Belles Dance Clinic this year.
When the weather changed, things really started to heat up for the team as they perfected their choreography for competition season, which started in Dec. The Belles traveled to Kansas City to compete at the 2023 Missouri State Dance Team Championships. The team captured a first-place finish in Lyrical Jazz, third place in pom, and was awarded second place overall in Division 5.
The work wasn't done yet as they soon had to pack their bags and head to Orlando for the National Dance Alliance (NDA) National competition. This was a competition for the LHS history books, as the team earned third place in Medium Varsity Jazz, the highest placement the Belles have ever earned at Nationals. Additionally, they received fifth place in Medium Varsity Game Day and 18th place in Medium Varsity Pom. The Belles left everything on the dance floor at Nationals and their hard work really paid off.
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- Academic All-State Honors
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Haylie Aubuchon
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Jenna Handlan
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Campbell Bahr
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Serena Bartels
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Ellie Crangle
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Charity Edney
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Ashleigh Kayser
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Emily May
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Kaitlin Stumpf
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Mckelvie Stepney
LHS’s Serena Bartels committed to continuing her education and dancing career at Lindenwood University with the Lion Line.
(Photos provided by Coach Amanda Miller)
North Point High School (NPHS) dance team had a great season. The team started off strong, mastering their halftime and sideline performances during the football season. NPHS dance moved on to competition season this winter. After placing fourth overall at State in Varsity Hip Hop and fifth overall at State in Varsity Pom, they were on their way to Nationals.
As the NPHS dance team made their way to Orlando to compete in Nationals, they checked another first off their list. They learned a lot from this first experience and received some positive feedback. The next season brings a ton of promise and growth, and they are eager to see what this team will do next!
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- Academic All-State Honors
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Sofia Jasper
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Catherine Hunn
(Photos provided by AD Jake Adams)
Timberland High School (THS) dance team had a great season. They started their season on the sidelines and performed during halftime. During practices, they were polishing their performances, waiting eagerly for competition season to start. Once the Friday night lights had gone out it was the Lady Wolves' time to shine. They competed at the Lindbergh Invitational, Holt Invitational, and UDA National Dance Team Championships.
Those competitions paled in comparison to what they had been working toward all season, however. THS was hungry for a State Championship title and they were given their opportunity at the Missouri State Dance Team Competition. The Lady Wolves walked away Division 5 Dance Team Champions, in addition, they earned first place for their Precision Dance routine and first place for their Pom routine. This is the first state championship title for the THS Dance Team. To add to their celebration, senior Sydney Robison earned first place in Senior Solo and senior Ella Crislip earned fourth place in Senior Solo performance.
- All-State Honors
- Team - State Champions - Division 5
- Sydney Robison - Senior Solo - State Champion
- Ella Crislip - Senior Solo - Fourth Place
- Academic All-State Honors
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Ella Crislip
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Sydney Robison
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Lily Long
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Ellie Thompson
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Libby Spangler
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Olivia Gaeng
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Addy Grantham
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Sydney Shrum
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Brooke Reger
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Macy Stevenson
THS’s Ella Crislip committed to continuing her education and dancing career at the University of Oklahoma.
(Photos provided by Gabby Deimeke, Coach Alexandra Jankowski, and Becoming Varsity)