Lawrence High School’s Pom Squad won a Sweepstakes Award during the recent Kansas Spectacular dance festival, conducted at Olathe East High School.

During the competition, which attracted teams from more than 30 schools from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, the 12-member Lawrence High squad received these awards:

• Sweepstakes, by scoring No. 1 ratings in jazz, pom and hip hop-3 dance.
• Gussie Nell Davis Award of Excellence.
• Judges awards for jazz and hip hop.
• Best overall technique, presentation, precision and choreography.
• Winners Circle for all three dances.
• Best of the Best Award, given to top 12 teams in the competition.
• The competition was Jan. 21-22.

Members of the team are Ty Aldridge, Libby Allen, Bailey Bussinger, Emily Donnell, Victoria Kaufman, Sara King, Katie Lomshek, Mackenzie Lomshek, Nicole McGrew, Mackenzie Owens, Katie Reynolds and Kaylee Wiggins. Coach is Marja Edwardson.

Free State focusing on City Showdown performance

The dance team at Free State High School doesn’t participate in competitions, but focuses on one event each year as if it’s halftime of the Super Bowl.

The school’s dance and cheer squads will perform a combined routine at halftime of the next Lawrence High-Free State boys basketball game, set for Feb. 25 at Free State, 4700 Overland Drive.

“We don’t do competitions, but it’s that caliber of a routine,” said Paige Hofer, director of Free State’s dance and cheer program.