The Homestead Girls Dance Team prepares a routine to perform at the homecoming pep rally each year with the boys’ football team. The two sports came together to show their school spirit at this year’s pep rally on Friday, Oct. 10.
Due to busy schedules, the teams had to coordinate practice times, but they found a way to accommodate both teams. They held practices in the gym and cafeteria during the week leading up to the performance.
Lily Rivera, senior, said, “It was a little difficult interacting with them [the football team] because they have busy schedules, and it was hard to combine our schedules with theirs to get it done.”
The coaches of the dance team assigned the captains to choreograph the dance and teach it to their teammates. The captains were faced with those responsibilities.
Caitie Wudy, a senior dance captain, said, “Well, the captains do a lot of stuff. We help clean up the dance, we do it in groups, and we give corrections to our sisters.”
The dance team captains spent time preparing for the pep rally.
Rivera said, “The football dance took a lot of effort for the senior [dance] captains to get it done, so it was great to show the final product.”
The team’s commitment to teaching and performing this dance reflects their program culture. The coaches reflected on the team’s values and how everyone contributes to the team’s success.
Head Coaches Abi Check and Mackenzie Kurtin said, “The team represents hard work, dedication, and commitment. Unlike many other sports, the dance team is an eight-month season, and that alone requires tremendous focus and perseverance. On and off the floor, we aim to be respectful, encouraging, and committed — not just to the team, but to making the experience fun and meaningful for everyone involved.”
The seniors have participated in the pep rally performance for the past four years. They have more experience with the event than the underclassmen on their team. Therefore, they are able to advise and take on this captain role. The captains are responsible for upholding themselves as teammates and others.
Wudy said, “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more organized as a teammate, making sure everyone’s getting their stuff done. I’m good at holding people accountable.”
