EWHS Drill Team Breaks Through at State Championship

The Edmonds-Woodway High School drill and pom team placed twice at the 2011 WIAA Dance/Drill State Championships on Saturday, the first time the school has earned a trophy at the competition.

In the 4A championships held at Yakima Valley SunDome, EWHS took third place out of nine teams in Military, which was won by Mount Rainier High School. E-W was also awarded fourth place (out of 16 teams) in Pom, won by Eastlake. E-W scored 437 points in Military and 427 in Pom, putting it in the Exceptional category twice.

EW’s dance team also performed at state, getting an Excellent rating for its routine.

“I’m so amazingly proud of my girls,” said coach Deb Johnson. “These girls have worked so hard all season and have strived to do their best and be better each and every time they compete. This competition was no different. They also make me proud every time they compete, as they always have such amazing spirit and good sportsmanship. It’s really who they are. They support each other and all other teams in reaching for their goals.”

Johnson said it was rewarding to be recognized with two awards in the statewide competition. “This is our beginning,” she said. “It’s been a long and, at times, impatient wait to bring home trophies from our state competition. Each year we give our best, work our hardest and always come home knowing we did all we could on that day. This year our best was enough. They deserved it and now know what to do next year to go for it again.”

In addition to her team winning the two awards, Johnson herself was honored as 2011 WIAA 4A Coach of the Year. “To be honored by your peers is such a wonderful and humbling thing,” she said. “This is my ninth season with the E-W team and I have gotten to know so many wonderful coaches, both veteran and new. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

The weekend’s competition capped a season during which E-W won two first-place awards and placed in all but one event.

There won’t be much of a wait before E-W starts preparing for next year. Tryouts take place in April and May, and participants practice all spring and summer, except for August. Freshman tryouts take place in the week before the first day of school.

EW's roster this year included Shayla Collins, Madalynn Halcomb, Angela Hilbert, Kamryn Hinrichs, Jenna Hoover, Morgan Hopper, Maddison Hueter, Kendra Johnson, Sydney Kaeppel, Crystal Kim, Jennifer Kim, Catherine Lewis, Lexi Lowe, Celeste Mann, Kristin Monroe, Kaylee Park, Gena Ragsdale, Allison Soergel, Michelle Steele and Tatum Tobiassen. The team is co-coached by Amy Johnson.

Meadowdale's dance team competed in the 3A competition held Friday, finishing fourth. Coached by Susan Todd, the team's members include Alexa Bickel, Star Blair, Jessica Blanchett, Erica Choi, Elyse Costello, Ginny Harper, Sophia Kessler, Morgin Matlin, Angela Rybarski and Leah Todd.

Full results are available on the WIAA website.