With yet another successful and exciting season, the PR Poms exceeded expectations as they finished the season with two second place finishes at the state competition in Peoria. The team received 2nd place in Open Pom and Hip Hop.
The PR Poms have qualified for state 15 years in a row.
Receiving 2nd place trophies for both routines, the Poms made PR history because while they have gotten 2nd place in hip hop before, they have never gotten 2nd place in both routines.
This was also the first year the PR Poms performed in Open Pom; although this was a brand new category for the girls, they came out victorious placing in the top 2 at every competition and competing against teams that have been performing in the category for years. Their open pom dance focused on the theme of “night,” and therefore, their navy and silver costumes matched their dazzling dancing. In their hip hop dance, the girls proved that they are “Hot” and that they can win and achieve success without the help of professional dance choreographers, as they always choreographed their own routines.
Team captains Lauren Boncosky and Katie Nobbe are very proud of the team and everything it has accomplished this past season. With two 2nd place finishes at state, Lauren “could not have asked for a better way to end an amazing season, and my last season, with my favorite teammates.”
As graduating seniors, they will be left with memories of the annual powderpuff game, countless performances on the football field and on the basketball court, and an incredible competition season.
For Katie Nobbe, the most memorable experiences this year have been “placing in the top 2 at all of our competitions and making PR Pom history at state as our HARD work really paid off!” Lauren will never forget “the nerves before the first competition when we performed Open Pom for the first time in PR history, or at state when the team came off the floor after performing Hip Hop with an overwhelming rush of assurance that we did our best.”
Furthermore, for Coach Bachta, the season was bittersweet since it was her last year coaching. She expressed how much she will miss coaching the team, declaring, “Over the past six years, I have grown so close to all the girls and have loved every moment of coaching the PR Poms.” After one of the best overall seasons in PR Poms history, Coach Bachta is happy to know she is “leaving on such a great note.”
Also, Coach Bachta was very excited to announce that Poms is becoming an official IHSA sport next year. She believes the poms and dance teams are finally receiving well-deserved recognition as a sport “since these dancers work extremely hard all year long.” The Poms season starts in May, continues through the summer, into the fall and winter, and finally ends in March after a tough competition season and exhilarating performance at State.
The 2011-2012 PR Poms are Alexis Ankele, Lauren Boncosky (captain), Sydney Branson, Brooke Carpenter, Jessie Clinton, Ellie Davila, Sydney Frey, Claire Kessler, Kaylie LaJeunesse, Meggie Layer, Grace Mack, Abby Mahnke, Gina Malouhos, Katie Nobbe (captain), Allie Pottala, Ewa Robak, Claire Smith, Carly Stovall, and Rachel Vandoorn. Congratulations to all the team members and Coach Bachta on a fantastic season.
