Panthers earn titles at State event

   The Monticello High School Panther dance team brought home two divisional state championships, took fifth place in another category, and had three top-10 finishers in its solo class, during the Iowa State Dance Championship Dec. 5-6 in Des Moines.

   Winning state titles were the Class IV Pom team, and the Class IV Hip-Hop team from Monticello. Head coach Amanda Hackney now has led dancers to 12 divisional state crowns.

   The Class II Lyrical team from Monticello took fifth place.

   In Class IV solo dance finals, Monticello’s Cameron Vargason took fourth place, Myra Wilson finished seventh, and Morgan Ward was 10^th. Annie Schlarmann earned special recognition in the Beyond Limits category.

   And, the Panther team earned the Distinguished Academic Award (cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher).

   “We are so proud of this team,” said Hackney, who is assisted by Emma Brighton.

   “They worked hard, they put the time in, and they sure made this business trip a success.

   “I’m so thankful for my four seniors (Myra Wilson, Arrianna Jones, Seneca Freeze and Cameron Vargason); they are true leaders and they inspire our team to be better every day.”

Dec. 5-6

Iowa State Dance

Championships

(at Des Moines)

TEAM DANCE FINALS

CLASS IV POM

     1, Monticello; 2, West Central Valley; 3, Mediapolis; 4, East Sac County; 5, Alburnett.

CLASS IV HIP-HOP

     1, Monticello; 2, West Central Valley; 3, OABCIG; 4, New Hampton; 5, Cascade.

CLASS IV LYRICAL

     1, Davenport Assumption; 2, Bondurant-Farrar; 3, North Polk; 4, Oskaloosa; 5, Monticello.

SOLO DANCE FINALS

CLASS IV

     1, Addisyn Leonard, West Central Valley; 2, Ella Boysen, OABGIC; 3, Scarlett Putney, West Central Valley; 4, Cameron Vargason, Monticello; 5, Maia Fuller, West Central Valley; 6, Kerigan Schreck, Kuemper Catholic (Carroll); 7, Myra Wilson, Monticelloi; 8, Kylee Junk, New Hampton; 9, Hailee Behrends, Kuemper Catholic; 10, Morgan Ward, Monticello.