After picking up positive momentum from a second place finish at State in January, the Varsity Poms team traveled to a nation wide competition in Orlando last weekend and returned with a seventh place trophy.

The team qualified after sending in a video of their pom and hip hop performances to the National Dance Allliance over the summer, and after being accepted, they went on to compete at the NDA High School National competition at Universal Studios in Florida. 

“The routines went smoothly and they were really consistent. There weren’t any huge mess ups at all during the weekend, so we were all pretty proud of our performances overall,” Gaggiano said. “That’s the thing about dance, it is all based on the judge’s opinion. We are still very happy with how the weekend went, and we are definitely proud of what we accomplished this season.”

Gaggiano credits their  solid performances to how they prepared in the days leading up to the competition, as well as the team bonding they were able to do once they arrived in Florida.

“We flew into Orlando on Thursday and got to hang out at the hotel and just bond with the team that day. Then on Friday we had time to relax and practice outside at the hotel, and that night we competed pom,” Angela Gaggiano, junior Pom member, said. “Saturday morning we got up early to practice for hip hop and get our hair and makeup done, then Saturday afternoon we performed hip hop.” 

With both a runner-up title from State and a seventh place trophy for hip hop at nationals, the Poms team managed to improve at both competitions in comparison to last year. However, Gaggiano and the rest of the team have even bigger ambitions for next year.

“Our biggest goal is definitely to win State. We placed third last year and second this year, so we’re going to work to finish off that trend,” Gaggiano said. “It will be different without the seniors because they’ve been role models to me since I was a freshman on the team, and they work so hard while and still make sure that practice is fun. For me, getting to perform our dances for the last time with this amazing team was definitely the best part of Nationals, and I can’t wait to come back next year with an even more unique and fun routine.”