The Sweet Home High School Huskiettes capped off their fall and winter seasons finishing eighth in the state competition held Saturday at the Memorial Coliseum.
Competing at state were junior Karla Perez; sophomores Kaitlyn Victor, Hailey Green, Abby Jernejcic and Jerusalen Ramon-Jiminez; and freshmen Thalia Dehart, Kailya Victor, Madi Seavey, Serenity Corona-Dehart, Noni Jernejcic, Gracie Wilson and Kendall Blasingham.
“Lots of growth this year with a very young team,” said Coach Eohe Howerton.
Typically, 17 teams compete in the 1A through 4A division, Howerton said, but this year, there were only 11 teams. Reaching state requires a qualifying score at competitions earlier in the school year.
The Huskies qualified for state in November. They competed in seven events prior to state, placing first and second in kick routine category and second in the novelty category.
They placed third their last competition, held at Thurston, before state and second at Canby.
“We just improved throughout the season and made changes,” Howerton said. “They did their best show at state.”
Kaitlyn Victor, such a young dancer, “did a phenomenal job” as team captain, Howerton said. “She really stepped up to the plate.”
She had assistance from two co-captains, Perez and Green.
The Huskiettes theme was “Pieces of the World,” Howerton said. The theme encompasses the idea that each person is a unique piece of the world no matter what their religion, age or other attributes.
The team danced to “Love Wins” by Carrie Underwood.
The dance follows the lyrics of the song, Howerton said, the idea that the world is so broke, with so much controversy and division.
In the dance, “we tried to put a world that’s broke back together again,” she said, to “show our audience and families that we’re each a puzzle piece,” that fits together with the others – sisters and brothers – and in the end “love wins.”
The dancers start out separate and somber in the routine, Howerton said. During the dance, they find each other and lift up their hands together.
“It’s a good year,” Howerton said. “Overall, I’m anxious for next year.”