VIDEO: Lakes Hip Hop Dance Team Qualifies for District Competition, Eyes State Berth in March

Deborah Yearsley has lofty goals for her Lakes hip hop and pom varsity dance teams this year.

After placing fourth in hip hop and ninth in pom last year at the Sun Valley Dome in Yakima, the charismatic group of athletes is poised for a return to state on March 24.

"My expectations are that we’re going to bring home two state trophies, one in each category," said the head coach.

Lakes senior hip hop captain Katrina Villanueva said the team has a different drive this year and she believes they will do well if they qualify for state. The group of 17 hip hop athletes already qualified for the West Central District competition scheduled for March 10 at Kentwood High School.

"It's definitely your No. 1 goal," Villanueva said about winning a state championship in hip hop. "The team is determined and we really want to be first place."

The Lakes dance team performs during intermission at high school sporting events like basketball. But that's not where the competition is. The team travels around the region in preparation for district and state. Both events are Washington Interscholastic Activities Association sanctioned events.

The team brought home two first-place trophies in hip hop and pom last  weekend during the Salute To Spirit annual event at the Comcast Arena in Everett. The squad captured a hip hop championship at Bonney Lake and placed third in pom the weekend before.

They perform at Kentridge High School this weekend for more practice.

There were about 20 dance teams competing at the state tournament last year. Yearsley said this is their most successful year leading up to playoffs. She credits team retreats and overall team bonding to the success of the team.

"They practice a lot on their own," Yearsley said about the limited access to the gym since basketball games and practices take up the space.

Pom is a military-style dance. Hip hop is choreographed and infuses a rich style of jazz. Yearsley said the hip hop team is more of an elite group that requires a high level of execution, synchronization, showmanship and technique.

Villanueva said the performance group's attitudes have changed and the team is even more excited about dancing.

"I hear them talk about state every time we practice," she said. "We talk about it every day on how we can get better,"

Check back with Patch on how the Lakes dance team does in the district and state competition in March.