By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
LA CROSSE – The Bay Port Dance Team won the Wisconsin Association of Cheer/Pom Coaches Division 1 state kick championship while competing in La Crosse Feb. 2.
The ladies also took second in the pom discipline behind Franklin High School.
“The dance season is extremely long and the girls have been working tirelessly since the beginning of June to earn that state title,” said second-year head coach Cora Wittmann, who danced at UW-Oshkosh and also spent two years coaching at Little Chute High School prior to arriving at Bay Port. “All summer long, we practice starting at 6 a.m. four to five days a week through the end of February. It takes a huge amount of time, effort, dedication and heart to win a state title. It has also taken so much dedication from the parents, spectators, Howard-Suamico school administration, community members and our local personal trainers at Bode Central in Howard. The girls are excited that ‘2019’ will be going up on the Dance State Champions banner in the gym at Bay Port. This will be a memory that they can look back on every time they enter that gym.”
Green Bay Preble finished just behind Bay Port in the kick competition.
According to Wittmann, the team was also extremely close to winning in pom as well, being edged out by just three points.
“Two of the four judges scored us in first place,” Wittmann said. “Division 1 is an extremely tough division to compete in. There are a lot of tough teams that we have to compete up against, but being one of the top contenders in both routines is a great accomplishment.”
Teams can only take two routines to the state competition.
“I could feel an entirely different presence in the arena when those girls hit the floor,” said Wittmann. “The energy of both the dancers and the parents was unbelievable and I believe it really added to our success this season.”
Next up, Bay Port will compete in Orlando, Florida, at the national competition at the end of the month.
“We are hoping to go down there to represent Wisconsin and Bay Port in the best way we can,” Wittmann added. “The competition will be tough, but I have a lot of faith in what these athletes can do at the national level.”
Members of the team are Libby Armstrong, Katie Avery, Mackensi Bjorklund, Emma Bourin, Sydney Breaker, Cagney Capesius, Gabby Dickman, Meagan Ehlke, Lyla Frailing, Emily Heezen, Ava Heyrman, Kaylee Jacquel, Gloria Kapla, Megan Kostrova-Weyers, Kasla Krajewski, Chloe LaHaye, Emily LaPointe, Abigail LaRonge, Ella Meeuwsen, Morgan Ness, Jordan Olson, Jennae Priewe, Marley Raab, Skylar Rotter, Sophia Schultz, Courtney Skaleski, Halle Slaasted, Ashleigh Sullivan, Averie Tenor, Sidney Williams, Raquel Wineck and Emily Zellner.