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Nazareth Academy Poms headed to state
The Nazareth Academy Varsity Pom team will compete in the first-ever state competitive dance championships.
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Updated: January 25, 2013 6:37PM
LAGRANGE PARK — The Nazareth Academy Varsity Poms team will compete Saturday at the first ever IHSA Competitive Dance state competition.
“There is an amazing sense of teamwork this year. Beyond any technical ability, members of this team are kind to each other and shared the common goal of making it to the first IHSA state competition,” said head coach Kelley Pennington.
The team placed third at IHSA sectionals Jan. 19, qualifying the 13-member team for the state competition in Bloomington.
The 2012-2013 Varsity team includes seniors Gabriela Eraci of LaGrange Park, Laura Hill of La Grange, Carli Kebby of Westchester, Sarah Radford of Westmont and Alexis Valiotis of Chicago; juniors Brooke Donnelly of Burr Ridge, Erin Getty of La Grange, Karina Rodriguez of Cicero and Kaitlyn Yarka of Chicago; sophomores Katie Cox of Oak Brook, Molly Griffin of Berwyn and Allison Rauch of Lemont, and freshman Ariana Surek of Clarendon Hills.
They have been working on endurance, strength, flexibility and performance style since June 2012, meeting three times a week for a 10-minute run, 20-minute stretch and core work, 15 minutes of dance technique and 45 minutes to work on routines.
Sarah Radford, this year’s team captain, acknowledged the team’s hard work during practice.
“What really made this year successful was our strong bond as a team. In fact, our team’s theme is Unbreakable,” she said. “The jazz-kick routine is choreographed to the song ‘Titanium.’”
