2003 Year in Review

Pons win 2nd at UDA Competition

Morrison has some of the top dancer in the state of Illinois. Last weekend the Morrison High School Pom Pon squad, who are four time State Champs, decided to compete in a regional competition with the UDA (Universal Dance Association).

This year’s Midwest Cheer and Dance UDA Championship competition in Peoria, Illinois, on December 14 was too close for the Morrison girls not to compete. There were soloist, schools, and all-star groups from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin competing. There was even a collegiate dance group, which included local dancer Sunny Kallas with the Illinois State team.

Morrison competes in the high kick division of 1A schools in Illinois competition. But the high kick competition included all schools. There only competition in the contest was the very experienced Crown Point High School from Indiana who won first place and were one of the top point winners for the event. Morrison also scored in the top five for the day with their second-place win scoring 535 of 600 points.

According to Pom Pon sponsor, LuAnn Navarra, “It was a good experience for the girls and a learning experience.” The girls did their state routine from last season but modified it from three to two minutes dancing to “Still the One”. They took some of the moves out but left the kicks in. The team that won was less of a high kick group than a showmanship group dancing to “Love Shack”. Theirs was more of a jazz routine and since this was Morrison’s first time at the event it gave them a better idea of what the judges were looking for.

The entire 11-member squad participated. Seniors (Megan Goodenough, Amy Drehmer, Britta Bartels, and Aimee Wagenecht, Juniors (Stacy Belha, Mallery Navarra, and Jamie Ware), Sophomores (Katie Barnett, Monique Vos, and Stephanie Andersen), and Freshman (Cameron Bierman).

In January a 10-person squad will start learning their routine for Illinois regional competition the first of February.

For a list of the winning teams visit results.

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
December 17, 2003