On February 22, the Starr’s Mill Pantherette dance team secured their eighth consecutive state championship. They performed their jazz routine and competed against 31 schools in the 4A-5A division.
“It’s my second season as head coach,” head coach Mandy Ridgeway said. “You could feel the time and dedication that it took for the dancers to get to this moment and was so rewarding to see it pay off for them.”
The Pantherettes have had an exhilarating season up to this point, winning first in 4A-5A Jazz and Pom at the Pantherette Invitational, McIntosh Invitational, and the South Forsyth Dance Competition.
“From my freshman to senior year, our team grew from nine to 19 people,” senior co-captain Ella Long said. “The changes we have endured each year and the growth in talent of our team over this time makes me so proud.”
At the state sectionals at McIntosh High School, the team brought home first in their routines and the overall highest score for the day.
The Pantherettes placed first in every competition they entered throughout the regular season.
“In the next year, I see our team getting even stronger,” junior Vivian Anderson said. “Every year we are able to level up and exceed expectations from the year before, and I see that happening next year and the years after.”
The Pantherettes are hosting a mandatory try-out meeting on March 18 in the cafeteria with dancers coming after school and parents at 6 p.m. Their try-out dates are March 25-27 and April 1-3 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.