The Sweet Home High School Huskiettes dance team named sophomore Kaitlyn Victor Most Valuable Dancer Thursday evening at the team’s annual awards dessert.
Freshman Gracie Wilson was named Rookie of the Year. Wilson and freshman Madison Seavey were Most Improved, and sophomore Abby Jernejcic was Most Inspirational.
The awards were decided by a team vote.
“This is the first time I’ve had such a young team,” said Coach Eohe Howerton. The team was nearly all freshman and sophomore with a single junior and no seniors.
She said her team improved all year long and showed great sportsmanship this year, and the Huskiettes did really well in the kick and novelty competitions of the fall season.
The 1A through 4A division is tough, Howerton said. Stayton has won the title 15 times in the last 18 years. The Huskies finished eighth this year at state.
She praised her team’s dedication, traveling to a session with a Winterhawks dancer in Lake Oswego and spending hundreds of hours in early-morning practice throughout the year.
Howerton noted that the team also had no issues with grades this year.
The team ran two clinics for younger dancers, Howerton said. The second drew 68 children.
Howerton told parents and dancers that the community has been very supportive of the program, including The Point Restaurant, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Les Schwab and Figaro’s.
Without community supporters and donors, the dance team, as well as other sports, wouldn’t be able to do what they do, Howerton said, and they are appreciated.
Earning their first letters in dancing were freshmen Kendall Blasingame, Kaylia Victor, Madison Seavey, Serenity Dehart, Noni Jernejcic and Gracie Wilson and sophomore Thalia Corona.
Earning their second letters were sophomores Abby Jernejcic, Jerusalen Jiminez, Hailey Green and Kaitlyn Victor and junior Karla Perez.