Not many high school dance teams have an opportunity to repeat as state champion.
Waupaca High School’s squad has a chance to do just that. Twice.
The team placed first Jan. 25 in the Pom and Jazz divisions in a regional competition at D.C. Everest High School in Schofield and is now headed back to the state cheer/pom competition, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1, at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse.
Amy Marcom coaches the team, which will compete for a Division 3 Pom championship and a Division 2 Jazz title.
The squad – which this season includes Abby Paynter, McKenna Gustke, Courtney Jungers, Courtney Bloom, Aubrey Schroeder, Kayla Thiele, Diana Chu, Emily Cummings, Kelsie Krawczyk, Alexa Johnson, Claire Jungers, Nikky Weise, Abby Stone, Cheyenne Bennett, Madison Hansen, Kira Mielke, Brooklyn Rohloff, Brenna Neumann, Juli Reynolds, Samantha Geary, Kelsey Klismet, Grace Koch, Mackenzie Morey, Zoe Johnson, Hannah Nasberg and Caroline Ogden – won state championships in both categories last year.
The team will take the stage in La Crosse with its Pom routine at 10:12 a.m. and follow that up with its Jazz performance at 1:04 p.m.
Waupaca Middle School’s Jazz team will also perform in an exhibition at 2:04 p.m.
“It’s the largest team I’ve ever had and both routines are undefeated this season,” Marcom said. “We have won best choreography for our Pom routine twice and I do our choreography. We also won the highest score of the day at the Ashwaubenon Invitational with our Pom routine.”
Fans of the team unable to watch the competition in La Crosse can catch the team at a post-state rally Monday, Feb. 3, at the school.
The high school and middle school squads will perform starting at 7 p.m.