Despite it being only their second competition of the year, Seaholm’s Maple Motion Dance team, and reigning state champions, went to the Birch Run Expo Center and won the Spirit Shrine State Championship.
“We were a new team,” said senior Sylvie Turner, “Half of the team was brought up from JV this year.”
The team was led by five senior girls: Erica Dutton, Elle Wilkinson, Rachel Galante, Kelsey Jackson, and Sylvie Turner, all of whom helped the team win three years in a row.
At the competition, teams compete in divisions, earning points depending on where they place in each division.
The Maples competed in four different divisions, Pom, Kick, Team, and Jazz, winning in three of the four, and accumulating enough points to win the Spirit Shrine State Championship.
“Winning states was a nice thing to add to my final year with the team,” said senior Rachel Galante.
While the win was exciting, the team is looking forward to bigger competitions.
“We have a really good team this year,” said senior Kelsey Jackson, “and I think we can go really far.”
“We still have nationals in Orlando, Florida,” said Turner. “[Winning states] was a good helper to get ready for the tough competition at nationals,” said Galante.
Ma Mo, as the team is affectionately called, placed third in the nation last year, in the Large division, which runs by team size, and are looking to move up in the standings at nationals this year.
“I hope to come home with a first place trophy and a leather jacket this year,” said Jackson.
With the team now competing in the Medium division, they will look to take on different teams from last year’s competition and hopefully come home with the first place trophy, and the leather jacket given only to those who finish in first place.
With a state championship under their belt, the Maple Motion dance team is looking to take on the competition at the Orlando Studios with a strong, and solid routine.
