The Superior Express -

We won! Superior High School's drill team has plenty to be cheer about. Friday they brought home the first place trophy in the C2 High Kick division at the Cheer and Dance Championship hosted by the Nebraska State Athletic Administration Association at Grand Island. The team competed against six other teams in their division. Their coach, Stephanie Corman, said the Superior High School team would have been in third place point wise if all 28 teams were in the same division.

Superior High School's drill team has nine members who tried out for the team last spring. During the summer they went to camp and practiced three times a week. Once school started, they practiced Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 6:30 for an hour. In January they added Sunday practices so they would be ready for state competition.

Thursday, the night before they competed, the team stayed in Grand Island, ate at Olive Garden and stayed at the Fairfield Inn. In the morning they went to the Heartland Event Center to watch the Division A and B dance teams compete. Then at 6:19 p.m., it was their turn. They were the first in their division to perform.

Walking out into the arena was a rush. Lacey Langer, a senior member, said it was the largest crowd they had performed in front of. Payton Fraham, senior, said the lights were so bright. The judges were at the top of the arena so the girls had to look up throughout their performance. It was a thrill for the team.

However, it didn't go quite like the team had planned. Part way through their routine, the music stopped because of a technical problem. The judges asked the girls if they wanted a chance to perform again since they were cut short. They all agreed, "Yes!"

Payton Fraham said they had only done the first part of their performance and there was a lot more to it when the music stopped so they wanted a chance to perform the whole routine. It was to a mix of songs they called "We Run the Night."

So they walked back to their room and waited until they were called again. They ended being the first and last performers for the C 2 division. Then the wait began.

All 28 high kick teams were called to the arena and stood in their groups. When it came time for the C2 division announcement, the Superior drill team stood in a circle holding hands. It seemed like a long wait because the judges announced fifth place first. When the drum roll began for the first place winner, Superior was first!

Noelle McMeens credits their success to the way the team bonded this year. Lacey Langer said they got to know each other outside of the drill team setting.

The drill team is still practicing. They will perform at Ord during Districts. If Superior wins, the drill team will perform at the state basketball championships in Lincoln.