By Murray Gleffe, Correspondent
ASHWAUBENON- The Ashwaubenon Jaguar dance team has already tasted success in 2017.
The squad recently finished 1st in Pom at the Hortonville Dance Invite on Nov. 4.
In addition, the team went south last week and finished 1st again in Pom, and 2nd in Jazz at the Wauwatosa West Trojan Dance Invite.
Senior Morgan Gauthier had the highest scoring performance on the day in either division in Wauwatosa.
“I was very shocked and surprised winning down near Milwaukee,” said Gauthier, Ashwaubenon High School dancer. “I want to thank my coaches for believing in me and letting me be my own person on the dance floor.”
Drew Meinel and Rodney Anderson both return as coaches for the Jaguars, and have set up a schedule that will no doubt challenge all 20 dancers.
The Jaguars will once again host their own invite on Dec. 2.
Over 80 teams and close to 1500 dancers will perform before a panel of judges at Ashwaubenon High School.
Preparations start weeks in advance, and a number of volunteers help out to make the event successful.
“Our Ashwaubenon Invite is one of the biggest competitions in the State, “ says Drew Meinel, Ashwaubenon Dance Coach. “Almost all of the high school classrooms are used to house the girls, and there are multiple areas where the girls compete and get placed appropriately.”
The team will then travel to the Fox Cities area for two competitions in January before preparing for Regionals and State.
“We can take our two best routines (out of pom, jazz, or kick) to Regionals, “ adds Meinel. “I fully expect us to advance from there. We have made State every year since we’ve been coaching and hope to add to that streak.”
2017-18 Ashwaubenon Jaguar Dance Roster (As of Nov. 21)
Kayli Anderson, Ava Brandt, Trinity Dufeck, Morgan Gauthier, Lauren Haines, Ava Helstad, Abi Herbst, Alexa Hockers, Jaelyn Hoppman, Faith Knaus, Laney LeMere, Lexie Moran, Olivia Nelson, Kaitlyn Parsons, Julia Perock, Amber Polomis, Katie Snulligan, Tiana Snulligan, Meganne Williams, Ariana Wynn
2017-18 Ashwaubenon Jaguar Dance Schedule (As of Nov. 21) *All times to be determined, and competitions may be added
Dec. 2 Ashwaubenon Dance Invite
Dec. 9 Little Chute Dance Invite
Jan. 6 Oshkosh West Dance Invite
Jan. 13 Kaukauna Dance Invite
Jan. 27 WACPC Regionals, Kimberly
Feb. 3 WACPC State, La Crosse
Mar. 2-3 DX Americup, Minneapolis
