ReillyO’Brien

For Marian’s cheer and dance teams, nationals felt a bit different this year. It was the first time both teams competed in Orlando on the same weekend, with dance going out for the Universal Dance Association Nationals and cheer being there for the Universal Cheer Association Nationals. The trip ended especially well for the dance team, with them placing 12th in the nation for their jazz routine. 

Karsyn Bandow-Stroebele, a junior on the varsity dance team, said she felt well prepared for the challenge ahead. “We had a lot more drive and passion to make it further this year,” Bandow-Stroebele said. 

Cheer continued to improve on their past scores. Sophomore Lily Mitchell, a member of the select cheer team, said it was tough because it was all but one of the girls’ first time at Nationals. 

“It was completely new to all of us,” Mitchell said. 

Bandow-Stroebele agreed, saying that dancing on the national stage is much more nerve-racking than a normal competition. 

The select team is made up of all sophomores and one junior. Mitchell decided to try out for it this year because she was trying to find more things to challenge herself with. 

“It was a new environment which made it a lot easier to get frustrated, but I pushed through it,” Mitchell said.  

“It’s also exciting because you get to see the progress you’ve made as a team and how all of the hard work and practices go into one big performance,” Bandow-Stroebele said. 

Both teams comepted within 10 minutes of each other, so they were able to cheer each other on. 

Mitchell said this felt really special for both teams to be there on the same weekend and it was fun to support each other. 

The dance team’s performances were fueled by emotion. 

After finding out their pom routine didn’t place, it was hard to go straight into jazz. But at the same time, the feeling pushed them further. 

“It was really devastating. We found out right before we performed jazz. Although it was sad, I think it pushed us further for our jazz performance, so in that way it was good but it always [stinks] not to make it,” Bandow-Stroebele said. 

It was special for the dance team to see all of their hard work finally pay off. Last year at Nationals, they placed 13th which made the 12th place finish that much sweeter. 

“It was super exciting and fulfilling,” Bandow-Stroebele said. She wants to take that same attitude into next year’s competition.

 “We had a lot of determination, and a strong work ethic which I think pushed us farther,” Bandow-Stroebele said. 

Mitchell will also take lessons from this year into next year, especially sticking with things even when they are hard. 

“There are so many practices or times when you just don’t feel like doing it but you have to show up and do it, not just for yourself, but for your teammates too,” Mitchell said.