How the 6 Peoria-area squads fared at the IHSA competitive dance state finals
The 2024 Illinois High School Association competitive dance state finals were the weekend of Jan. 26-27 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.
Six teams from the Peoria area competed among the 90 teams in the three-class event, with preliminaries on Friday and the finals on Saturday.
Here is a look at each of the teams, including their path to state, full rosters, coaches and how they fared in Bloomington.
Dunlap
How they got there: The Eagles finished first in the Class 2A portion of the Minonk Sectional.
Dancers: Adele Ackerman, Mia Allen, Grace Gibbs, Shalyn Kelly, Rita Khoury, Mara Lanser, Ella Middleton, Malabi Mukherjee, Clover Rogy, Annie Sparks, Avery Thielke.
Coach: Randi England.
How they fared: The Eagles finished 22nd in Class 2A.
Washington
How they got there: The Panthers are back at state after finishing second in the Class 2A portion of the Minonk Sectional.
Dancers: Natalie Blackwell, Sadie Boston, Baylee Brownfield, Ava Bulfer, Izzy Garrison, Alison Gruber, Addison Heider, Alyx Heinrich, Taylor Huett, Bella Limas, Sophia Mescher, Ellie Redlingshafer, Grace Reed, Cecelia Sandberg, Mady Sandberg, Piper Schultz, Carinne Tarkowski, Kara Tiesman, and Ella Vaughn.
Coach: Varsity head coach Lauren Metz; varsity assistant Brittany Hofer; JV head coach Josie Wudtke; JV assistant Sammi Alstott.
How they fared: The Panthers finished 15th in Class 2A.
Pekin
How they got here: The Dragons finished fourth in the Class 2A portion of the Minonk Sectional to advance to their seventh state finals since 2013.
Dancers: Isabella Ghidina, Claire Powell, Charlee Johnson, Lainey Volz, Gracelyn Mini, Emilia Rueschhoff, Kendall Garman, Kaelyn Berndt, Emma Gaudet.
Coach: Dione Gresham, Sue Venturi-Johnson
How they fared: The Dragons finished 29th in Class 2A.
Peoria High
How they got here: The Lions finished fifth in the Class 2A portion of the Minonk Sectional.
Dancers: Amonia Moore, A'mihja Buckner Gates, Re'na Lyles, Demardriana Zapata, Ava Williams, Nai'yanna Munoz, Demaria Ross, DeMya Ross, Jordyn Lewis, My'Angel Wallace, Da'Nasja Marks
Coach: Alaina Rice
How they fared: The Lions finished 30th in Class 2A.
Elmwood
How they got here: The Trojans finished third in the Class 1A portion of the Minonk Sectional.
Dancers: Seniors — Abigail Colgan, Lauren Feller, Kennedy Gillum, Madisyn Lambert, Allie Syvmbersky; juniors — Claire Colgan, Isabelle Davis, Kaylee LaFollett, Maci Marincic, Kaylin Williams; freshman — Esther Shirven.
Coach: Emily Roberts
How they fared: The Trojans finished 18th in Class 1A.
Eureka
How they got here: The Hornets are back at state after finishing fourth in the Class 1A portion of the Minonk Sectional.
Dancers: Penny Albertson, Lexi Challacombe, Vivi Challacombe, Emma Donovan, Molly Gossmeyer, Kelsey Knapp, Grace Neukomm, Viv Neukomm, Kim Schmidgall and Allison Wetzler.
Coaches: Head coach Rebecca Hack, assistant Madisyn Hack, volunteers Ashleigh Hadfield, Ila Bachler, Bri Wetzler and Teegan Hobbs.
How they fared: The Hornets finished 25th in Class 1A.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA competitive dance state finals: Teams from the Peoria area
