Lehi Sports
Skyridge drill team places in region competition
Jennifer Thomas | Lehi Free Press
After several hours of fierce competition, the Amurelles placed fifth overall in the Region 4 drill team meet on Jan. 23.
The team placed fifth in the military category, fourth in dance and fifth in show, in which there was a double tiebreaker with Corner Canyon High School. The Skyridge drill team also competed at the state semifinal competition on Feb. 2 at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Military is a competitive category and the Amurelles performed at the region competition with acrobatic stunts and difficult partner work. They danced with precision and strength. This routine demonstrated the team’s discipline and skill.
They also performed in the dance category with great poise as they executed complicated choreography.
The Amurelles danced with great personality and showmanship in the Show category. The dancers demonstrated great technique as well as flexibility and control. The routine was upbeat and the choreography was fun.
Maddie Fugal, Skyridge dancer, said, “This year for region our team went into the competition well prepared with hours of practice and past competitions. We were so excited and ready to compete and show off our routines.
“Like many other teams, we had our setbacks at the region competition, but we didn’t let it get us down and we just used the time remaining before state semis to practice and perfect our routines even more,” she said.
Although the Skyridge drill team did not advance to the state final competition, they did gain a strong team bond during this season.
“Our team has many strengths, the most important one being the love we have for each other and the sisterhood we share. We have a bond that strengthens us so much,” said drill team captain Ally Russon.
The Amurelles had a new head coach, Sarah Murphy, with assistants Kyra Montfleury and Kemry Oswald.
“Region was so incredibly fun. This is always my favorite competition of the season. As a team, I feel like we were definitely prepared to go out on the floor and do our very best, whether that meant getting first place or not,” said Russon.
“This season was full of challenges. However, our theme this year was to ‘rise above.’ No matter what the circumstances, what was happening in the world, we came together and we did rise above,” she continued.
“I am so proud of my team this year. We have accomplished so much and I am forever blessed to be a part of it,” added Russon.
Fugal said, “We worked hard and remained focused as a team with our goal of sprinting strong to the end in mind. I’m grateful for what we have learned from the challenges, for the opportunity to compete and for the people who made it possible during this season of a pandemic.”
