Dancing to the stars

Move over, "Dancing With the Stars."

The Jacobs High School girls dance team says "Bring it on!"

Competing in the International Dance Teachers Association since 1999, Jacobs has quickly established not only a tradition for the Golden Eagles, but a winning tradition.

Under the guidance of five-year coach and former Jacobs student/pom athlete Kristen Semerich, the Golden Eagles have taken home the state title in the AAA varsity Hip-Hop Division for four straight seasons. Last year, the team added a state title in the AAA varsity Open Pom Division as well.

On March 2, the team will travel to Peoria in search of state title No. 5.

"Poms have been around at Jacobs since the school opened," said coach Semerich. "We have been competing since 1999."

Winning competition after competition as well as qualifying for -- and winning -- at the state level is no easy task, especially when both choreographer and choreography change every season.

What makes the Jacobs dance team unique is that each year the job of choreography goes to the seniors on the squad.

This year, choreography honors went to senior co-captains Kasey Cavanaugh and Danielle Hermann, as well as Kaylyn Dever, Jennifer Haske, Lindsey Henrickson and Amber Readel.

"The most challenging and the most rewarding thing about competing is that our seniors make up all of our routines," Semerich said. "Considering the success that we've had and the growing talent we've had to face, that task has only gotten more difficult with time."

Kasey Cavanaugh can attest to that.

"It is a lot of work to put together a routine," Kasey said. "There have been a lot of changes in the style category, and while we use a lot of the same skills, the routines have become more difficult and more challenging overall.

"Luckily for us, our team works extremely well together. Even though it is a lot of hard work, it's really cool when you do well at a competition knowing that you helped create the routine."

Jacobs' most recent success came last weekend when they hosted and won the Team Dance Illinois competition on Feb. 2. This is the team's first year competing at TDI, which will become the IHSA state competition as soon as dance is declared an official Illinois sport.

Out of 100 possible points, and with four judges keeping score, the Golden Eagles nabbed totals in the 90s to win firsts in both the AAA Hip-Hop Division as well as the AAA Open Pom Division. Other local talent among the 56 teams in attendance included Prairie Ridge, Crystal Lake South, Crystal Lake Central, Cary-Grove, Huntley and Marengo high schools.

"I think this was a huge weekend for the girls," Semerich said. "This was an important one, and the girls were pumped. It was an unbelievably great day for the team."

The level of commitment it takes to be successful is astounding, but what most might find even more astounding is the fact that 22 high school girls have to get along year-round.

"Yes, 22 high school girls; we go through our ups and downs," Semerich said. "We have our share of problems. There's a wide variety of personalities and work ethics here, and it can be hard to get 22 girls on the same page.

"But, once you get them working together, they are amazing. They are all here for one thing, which is to perform and compete at a high level. Watching them put it all together to do that is the most rewarding thing for me as a coach."

As in any other sport, setting goals and working to accomplish those goals is what gives this group balance.

"Of course girls clash, but we always all come together and work toward the same thing," Kasey said.

This year's ultimate goal is to win state titles in both the Hip-Hop and Open Pom divisions, as they did last year.

Winning state titles in both is just another indication of how exceptional this squad is, because of how much the two divisions differ.

"Hip-Hop is more street style with looser movements," Kasey explained. "Open Pom requires more skill and technique."

Obviously, Jacobs has both.

While the senior girls lay the foundation, it is up to teammates Stephanie Berreles, Cassandra Castillo, Alyssa Chittenden, Nancy Hyman, Kara Mielke, Michelle Mikos, Ashley Mueller, Taylor Paice, Arly Panvino, Katherine Rydz, Kayla Schneider, Jennifer Totten, Anna Vierneisel, Alexandra Williams, Katie Wroten and Karen Zaehler to carry it out successfully -- a task which gets more and more difficult each season.

"It is a lot of fun to be a part of this, but it is a lot of pressure," said Danielle Hermann. "We want to stay on top and keep the tradition going."

Kasey agrees.

"After building a winning tradition, you don't think about settling for less," she said.

Regardless of what happens on March 2, this group is already a success story.

Nonetheless, they intend to astonish admiring fans with this year's rendition -- or rather a new twist -- on the successes of past years.

"Our routine this year is a lot different than what we've done in the past," Danielle said. "It was really fun to mix things up a bit. We're all excited because we have worked countless hours all season to prepare."

Kasey is excited not only for the team, but for fellow students, teachers, coaches and opposing squads as well.

"I love the school spirit and support we have gotten from just everybody," Kasey said. "It makes all the hard work worth it. And it is amazing to see how good the competition has gotten. Every team we compete against is awesome, and that pushes us to be better."