The Dance and Drill Coaches Association hosted its annual Category Championships competition at Gresham on Jan. 21.
The competition looked a little different than past years, with teams competing in both open and a pre qualified championship division. Within the dance categories, teams were also competing in divisions related to their OSAA school classifications.
“I am so proud of our Scappoose Vision dancers," Scappoose coach Pam Didier said. "They worked hard for their well deserved championship in 1-5A hip hop. And congratulations to our novice drill winners, Marie Wooters (first place) and Cierra Brown (second place).”
Along with category champions, we also saw winners in Novice and Advanced drill down in 1A-5A and 6A classifications. To compete at the championship drill down level, a dancer had to be a top contender at a prior competition.
“It’s an amazing feeling to represent Parkrose at the Category Championships but the best feeling of all was making my teammates and family proud. Their support means the world to me and none of this would’ve been possible without them," said Lily Brown, 5A Advanced DD winner.
Donations were also collected for the annual DDCA Scholarship fund in the amount of $462 . The funds go to support the graduating seniors in the membership through academic, dance and diversity excellence scholarship opportunities.
“Championships was such a fun experience," South Albany sophomore Abby Fief said. "I really enjoyed getting to see my dance team besties from other teams, jamming out to music with our 'hallway neighbors,' and getting to watch our fellow Oregon dance teams dance their hearts out. I'm so glad we got that opportunity."
First-Place winners:
- Clackamas (6A Contemporary)
- Lake Oswego (6A Jazz)
- Sprague (6A Kick)
- Sherwood (6A Pom)
- Lake Oswego (6A Hip Hop)
- Clackamas (1A-6A Show)
- Philomath (Open Contemporary)
- Canby (1A-6A Modern)
- Gresham (Open Pom)
- Tigard (Open Hip Hop)
- Centennial (1A-5A Pom)
- Grant Union (Open Jazz)
- Sprague (1A-6A Novelty)
- Philomath (Open Novelty)
- Canby (1A-5A Contemporary)
- Scappoose (1A-5A Hip Hop)
- Canby (1A-5A Jazz)
Drill Down winners
6A
Novice:
First: Tara Shenoy Kudpi, Sunset
Second: Roanne Monzon, Cleveland
Third: Julia Li, Sunset
Advanced:
First: Pannonica Maruna, Cleveland
Second: Layla Cassity, Sprague
Third: Kayla Pobuda, Sprague
1A - 5A
Novice:
First: Marie Wooters, Scappoose
Second: Cierra Brown, Scappoose
Third: Reese McMahon, South Albany
Advanced:
First: Lily Brow , Parkrose
Second: Isabella Frias, Valley Catholic
Third: Anna Johnson, Thurston
A huge honorable mention to the Cleveland Tenacity dance team, which not only had two members bring home medals from championships, but had 12 team members qualify to compete in the Championship drill down division.
Cleveland coach Coral Burgess said: "I am so proud of our 12 dancers who qualified to compete in Drill at the DDCA Championships this year. Watching Roanne (Monzon) win second place in Novice and Pannonica (Maruna) bring home the first place Champion title in Advanced Drill was a very special moment for our team."
Pannonica Maruna, a junior, said: “It felt amazing to win this award for my family, coaches and team.”
“Had to show my Tenacity,” said Roanne Monzon, a sophomore.
Dance has officially entered the state season and will now begin to qualify routines for the OSAA championships on March17 and 18.
*Full results available on the DDCA website www.ddcaoregon.org
web@ddcaoregon.org
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