The Huskiettes dance team placed ninth among 14 teams at the state dance championships Friday and Saturday at the Chiles Center at University of Portland.
“We did OK,” Coach Kristin Ashcraft said. “We did better than last year.
“They danced it awesome. The danced it perfect. They did everything I asked them to do.”
The Huskiettes made some small errors during the first round of 4A dance Friday, Ashcraft said. They corrected the errors and had no problems in the second round on Saturday.
The competition was “really, really tough,” Ashcraft said. “Everybody looked awesome. I’m really glad to be in the 4A division. It’s the toughest division in that we hve small and large combined.”
The Huskies tried something unusual this year, performing a lyrical dance, with a them running through a single tune, “Dancing,” by Elisa. Their goal was to communicate the emotion through their performance.
“We had people in the audience crying,” Ashcraft said. “It’s a heart-breaking, beautiful piece.”
One other school performed a lyrical dance routine this year, Ashcraft said. Ironically, that school, Phoenix, performed to the same song.
“It was like they were at my practice,” she said, but Phoenix finished one place behind Sweet Home.
Also during the competition, Senior captain Whitney Stoner was named one of 12 all-state dancers from about 21 teams.
Last week, the Huskiettes performed their routine before a home audience and received team awards.
Rachel Thomas received the best director award. Tori Lillich was most improved. Tree Parks was entertainer of the year. Kayla Froman received the dedication award. Jessica Parga received the leadership award, and Stoner was named outstanding dancer.
The Huskiettes also received their letters in dancing.
Stoner received her fourth letter.
Receiving third-year letters were juniors Parga, Froman and Sara Traeger.
Receiving second-year letters were senior Kathryn Reed, junior Lillich and sophomores Michaella Parks, Thomas, Kyle Lewis, Kaitlyn Long and Krystal Juza.
Receiving their first letters were senior Brenda Bejarano and freshmen Emily Conrad and Laura Mauer.