116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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By Brylie Hayes, Xavier sophomore
Dec. 16, 2014 8:52 am
CEDAR RAPIDS - The dizziness does not stop the Xavier High School pom squad as it continues its 2014 season and gets ready for state.
The poms consist of jazz, lyrical and pom routines along with different costumes that are used to give a better visual of the dance.
'I enjoy the poms routine the most even though it is the hardest,” said sophomore Brie Baldus. 'Everyone yells and motivates each other during the performance.”
Baldus is participating on the pom squad for her second year and plans to continue participating the next two years of high school because she enjoys working and bonding with her teammates. Baldus has been dancing since the age of 4 and was first interested in poms when she was in middle school.
'I would watch the pom squad perform during halftime at the high school football and basketball games and it really inspired me,” Baldus said.
She is looking forward to continuing her dancing career after graduation.
'I would really like to join another dance team in college and be able to perform for people at the games,” Baldus said.
The Xavier pom squad consists of 16 girls ranging from freshmen to seniors. They meet after school three times a week to prepare various routines for home football and basketball games and any upcoming competitions. The squad is led by coaches Stephanie and Kellie Breitbach.
'It's a big commitment for all the girls and their families, but the excitement at each performance makes it all worth it,” Coach Kellie Breitbach said.
Throughout the year, the pom squad competes in five competitions. This season started at Stack The Stands, hosted by Prairie High School on Oct. 25. The Saints placed first in jazz and grand champion in pom. The Saints also placed second in jazz and seventh in the pom category at North Shore, hosted by Glenbrook High School on Nov. 16. On Dec. 5-6, the squad headed to Des Moines for state, placing second in pom and third for the jazz and lyrical routines.