LLast month our North Star Cheer and Dance team competed at the State Cheer & Dance Competitions. Our dancers, the Dazzlers, competed on Thursday, February 20th in the Hip-Hip Dance division. They earned 8th place for their performance. The cheer team competed on Saturday, February 22nd in the Game Day Cheer division and Traditional Cheer division. They placed 6th in Game Day Cheer and 5th in Traditional Cheer.
As their successful seasons come to an end, a few members of each team reflect on the season. One of the Dazzler team captains, Hayden Danburg, provides further insight on the State experience and their season. Danburg’s favorite part of State was being able to see her friends from other schools that she doesn’t get to see that often. When asked to reflect on the season she says, “The vibe this year, I really liked. We clicked really easily.” A new member of the team, Sidney Stephan, transferred from Lincoln Pius X and joined the Dazzlers her junior year. Her favorite part of the State competition was the team van ride to Grand Island. Stephan mentions how they’re “all super close with each other, and that made it fun at games” throughout the season. Danburg and Stephan are both excited for next year, but also sad as it will be their Senior year and last season as Dazzlers. Yesenia Puentes, one of the cheer team captains, mentions how State was a great moment for their team. She said that everyone was positive and they were all hoping for the best. Puentes enjoyed “meeting a lot of new people” and teams while being in such a great environment. She said the Gators put in their best effort and she was proud of the work they accomplished. A senior on the team, Leyna Nguyen shares one of her last cheer experiences. Nguyen mentions how State was “really fun because [they] had two routines” so it wasn’t one and done. She said that they were all there to have fun and that the placement wasn’t everything. She said that the Cheer team gave it all out on the mat and worked their hardest. As Nguyen reflects on her season, she mentions how happy she is that she had this opportunity to be a part of such an amazing program. Nguyen was able to make so many new friends and have a fun experience. When asked how her time in cheer prepared her for the future she said, “It was an experience and it definitely prepared me for college with communication and teamwork.” Nguyen will take lessons from cheer throughout her entire life, and this small testament shows the power of the programs here at North Star.
The Dazzlers and the Cheerleaders are a crucial part to our school. They support our school through the wins and the losses and never lose hope in our abilities to succeed. Lincoln North Star is proud to have such amazing programs to support our athletics and activities. These programs not only develop talented young leaders, but also prepare them to be successful members of society. Until next year Cheer and Dance!
