Small but mighty!

5 members strong, the JV dance team heads to competition on Jan. 12

Tori+Mogannam%2C+Grace+Schneider%2C+Lauren+Marcinkiewicz%2C+Elizabeth+Simpson+and+Sarah+Uschold+take+a+picture+before+going+on+stage+for+a+competition+at+summer+camp.+

Abby Erickson

Tori Mogannam, Grace Schneider, Lauren Marcinkiewicz, Elizabeth Simpson and Sarah Uschold take a picture before going on stage for a competition at summer camp.

Even though they have a small team, they have big hearts for dance.

The JV dance team is five members strong this year. While they do the usual cheering at football and basketball games, this is the first year in a while they have also been able to participate in competitions. Their first competition was Dec. 1 at Lindbergh. They placed third in Jazz and fourth in Pom. Their next competition is Jan. 12 in Farmington, MO.

Competition is pushing the girls even harder than before, according to Head JV Coach Abby Erickson.

“I think it may be a little tougher this year than it was last year because last year JV wasn’t competing and this year they are. I want them to succeed for competition as well as improve enough to eventually make varsity, so I can be a little tough sometimes,” said Erickson.

Erickson also commented on having a small JV team this season and how she feels about it.

I love coaching a small team. It is much easier to clean and work on routines with a smaller team because it is easier to see everyone,” Erickson said. “Big teams have their advantages as well, but this season I am enjoying coaching a smaller team.

Sophomore captain Lauren Marcinkiewicz ¨also likes having a small team.¨

“I feel like it’s easier to clean dances and learn the dances. It’s also easier to bond as a team,” said Marcinkiewicz.

Sophomore Elizabeth Simpson agrees with Marcinkiewicz that there are positives to having a small team.

“I really enjoy having a small team. I feel like having a smaller team we grow a stronger bond as people,” Simpson said.

Marcinkiewicz also added to the goals of the season and what she would like to have as a team accomplish.  

“I would like for us to get some stronger seconds, second turns and also team headsprings; That would be pretty cool,” Marcinkiewicz said.

As JV dance gets further into the season the girls are pushing harder into training. Simpson also added her input for goals of the 2018-2019 season.

“As a team, I would like to just see us grow stronger as dancers. Also, I would like to see us collectively point our toes,¨ said Simpson.

Erickson said she’s unsure why the team is so small this year.

“I’m not exactly sure. Three years ago we got three new girls, two years ago we got nine, and last year we got one. It doesn’t really make sense. There is never a pattern and every year is different,” she said. “I think some people chose studio dance over dance team because studio allows you to do multiple sports and it is challenging to do that with dance team. Dance team is also more competitive than most studios nearby and some people don’t love competition,¨

Marcinkiewicz said she had no dance experience before joining the South team.

¨ I chose dance team because I am a gymnast and dance team as the closest to that. I didn’t have any previous dance experience before dance team,¨ said Marcinkiewicz

However, Simpson said she did have dancing experience before joining the team. She danced at Lucille Rap in Kirkwood for three years.

¨I chose dance team because when I was younger I saw the dance team and they were really good. I thought it would be fun to join. Also, it is a team of fun things. We get to dance at games and school events which is really fun. Finally, I wanted to get involved in school and wanted to meet and get to know new friends,¨ said Simpson.

When you are looking at the dance team there is so much diversity in experience, reasons, and styles. Favorite styles range from ¨Jazz, Pom, and hip-hop¨  according to Marcinkiewicz and Simpson. The favorite styles are very different yet it doesn’t matter which style you do as long as you enjoy the people you are dancing with.

Returning sophomore Tori Mogannam is also on the squad and said her favorite thing about the dance team.

¨My favorite thing about dance team is when we spend time together and we dance and have fun,” she said.

In conclusion, we asked returning Sophomore, Sarah Uschold the same question.

¨My favorite thing about dance team well I have a lot of favorites. I like hanging out with my friends and like getting to see people that I love every day and it’s just so entertaining. I love it,¨ she said.