A number of ingredients are necessary to form a successful team. You need talent, of course, but it takes so much more than that. You also need a dedicated, hard-working group of athletes. Sprinkle in focus, cohesiveness, and fun ... now we’re getting somewhere. And here comes that secret ingredient, the one that can take a good team and elevate it to that next level of great. Experience. There’s nothing quite like vet- eran leadership to rise the tra- jectory of a team, and that’s exactly what the Gilbert dance team has as it puts complete focus on its state competition in early December. It’s not a large group; the team consists of eight members this year. But it is dedicated, hard-working, talented, and, yes, experienced. “Most of the girls have a long
background in dance, and we do have five seniors,” Gilbert assistant dance coach Jewel Heubner said when asked to describe this year’s team. “Our expectation is to continue to get better. Dance is really subjec- tive, and so we have worked really hard to play into our strengths and we hope it shows on the floor. The goal is always the placement, but we’re just happy to continually get better.” Reese Anderson, Sarah Fed- dersen, Delaney Anderson, Taryn Hicks, and Danielle Vogel are all in their final year of dance for Gilbert, and all of them are either three- or four- year team members. Shaylee DeLancey and Marlee Van Cleave return to the team as well, and Bentlee Young is the squad’s lone freshman. Gilbert performed three dances at the 2023 Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Associa- tion state competition and placed fifth (Prop, Class II), sev- enth (Kick, Class II), and 10th (Jazz, Class V) overall.
WINTER 2024-25 | GAME ON 49
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