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Bomberettes dance like grand champions
(by Sue Hoffman - March 31, 2011)
Bomberettes dance like grand champions
By SUE HOFFMAN
Hard work, teamwork and passion recently added up to three national awards, including a grand championship in dance, for the Kenston High School Bomberettes at the Cleveland Convention Center.
The 2011 Hard Rockin' National Cheer and Dance Championship brought the first national grand championship for the Bomberettes. The 17-member dance team also won champion awards for its kick and pom routines, competing against teams from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
The Bomberettes, chosen each year by audition, were surprised at the grand championship, senior team captains Liz Schaefer and Alison Tatro said.
"It was really a big accomplishment," Liz said. "We had the highest overall score of all the high school dance teams."
"It was a great end to our season," Alison said.
"There were professional judges from all over the United States," coach Kathy Werner said. "Our girls are typically competing against studio all-star dance teams."
Once the girls won their awards for pom and kick, Mrs. Werner said, the grand championship award wasn't going to be announced for another three hours. "I asked the girls if they wanted to stay, and they did. At the award ceremony, the grand championship was the last award to be given out. We ended on a high note."
In addition to their champion awards, Bomberettes took home satin jackets with the "Grand Champions" title on the back. At the competition, the Bomberettes performed their pom routine to "Dream Mix" and kick routine to "Dynamite," by Taio Cruz.
For Mrs. Werner, the victory was especially sweet as she celebrates 20 years of coaching the team. "I am proud to be their coach," she said. "They all have made a wonderful difference in my life and will forever hold a very special place in my heart." She said the ensemble's motto is, "Smile, sparkle, shine."
Her years as coach have been memorable, she said. "We've traveled to perform at NFL games, the Cotton Bowl and Disney World. We've been invited to many places over the years." Besides trophies at competitions, the team has taken home awards from band camps, she said.
The Bomberettes, who serve as the dance team with the band at football and basketball games, enter a few competitions a year, she said. In addition to the national competition, they competed at a regional contest in Chardon this year. The team also took first-place awards for pom and kick routines at the Chardon competition, as well as awards for most entertaining team and best choreography.
Winning takes hard work, Mrs. Werner said. "They have worked so hard as a team this year."
"We practice four days a week from August to November," Liz said of the football season.
They start up again with a similar practice schedule in December for the basketball team and continue practicing for dance competition.
Team leaders said they joined the group for friendship and to be part of the dance team.
Officers Kristin Schultz and Megan Montville, both juniors, said being in the Bomberettes has been a treasured experience.
"You get close to all the girls," Kristin said. She said the grand championship was "a great accomplishment on all we were working on."
"I always saw the team perform at halftime and thought it would be cool to be a part of it," Megan said. She's happy she joined, she said.
Other members of the award-winning team are Chloe Butler, Eryn Donnellon, Alexis Drees, Brittany Elliott, Lexie Gentile, Leah Grcevich, Katie Gross, Tate Hamilton, Allison Kumnick, Amanda Powell, Katie Sawchik, Nicolette Severino and Jazmin Stokes.
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