This month the Highlands Varsity Dance Team made their way down to Lexington, KY for the 2025 KHSAA State competition. Originally state was scheduled to be on Dec. 14 but had to be rescheduled for Jan. 11. Despite the setback, it gave the team more time to prepare for the competition, putting in extra time and more hard work to hopefully take home another state championship. 

The team has already been very successful winning a 1st in pom and hiphop this season. 

“Going into state I felt very prepared, and ready. I was also super excited to show everyone how hard we’ve been working,” Rose Ewald (11) said. 

Ewald (11) was also on the dance team that won in state in both pom and hiphop last year, making Highlands history. Ewald (11) is always hyping the team up, and making sure everyone feels confident and ready before going onto the floor. 

“I knew how it felt to win in both so I wanted to make sure we at least came home with one trophy this year, the feeling of winning is indescribable,” Ewald (11) said. 

The dance team ended up coming home with a 1st place in pom, and a runner-up in small hiphop.

“The feeling of winning was really good, me and my other teammate Sammy Gabennesch celebrated with our Coach Molly Ferring, we hugged and jumped around right after we were announced as first, we couldn’t believe it,” Drew Ellison (12) said. 

The team has now won back to back pom state competitions, this consistency is proof of all the hard work and dedication the team continues to put in every year.