Tag Archives: Brittain Allgood

April 13, 2012 · 1:30 am

Centerstage! takes Orlando by Storm

by: Brittain Allgood

Staff Reporter

Oak Grove Centerstage! show choir will be attending the FAME national competition in Chicago on April 20. Centerstage! traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete at one of FAME’s national competitions on March 3. The group competed with groups from all over the south region and received third place overall, giving them a bid to the national competition in Chicago. The competition was held on the Hard Rock Live stage in the center of Universal Studios. “It was really cool because the name of our show choir was displayed on the same marquee as rock bands who have performed there,” said senior show choir performer Destiny Lomax. They were the first group to perform on Saturday, so they were able to watch all of their competitors after performing. Surprisingly, there was one other group from Mississippi that attended FAME in Orlando: South Jones High School. Having another school there that they were familiar with made it easier for them to focus and made them feel more at home. “The other groups were amazing,” said Lomax. “We all thought that we performed to the best of our ability and would just have to hold our heads high and accept last place since the competition was so fierce.” The group was so excited to hear that they had received third place because that meant that they had beaten over half of the schools that competed. Along with getting a bid to nationals, senior Clay Gatlin received Best Male Soloist and senior Markos Williams received Best Male Performer. “It was a very humbling experience, and I was extremely shocked because I didn’t think that I would ever receive this award,” said Williams. “Winning this award just made the trip much more exciting.” These specific awards were very significant because the two Oak Grove seniors were chosen as the overall singer and dancer of the entire competition. The week of attending FAME in Orlando was more than just a competition. The group was in Orlando for four days, giving them plenty of time to enjoy the theme parks. They spent Sunday and Monday at Universal Studios riding roller coasters and for some, experiencing Harry Potter World and the world famous “butter beer” for the first time. Oak Grove Centerstage! has had a successful season. Not only did they get a new show choir director, Darren Dale, but they also moved up this year to the large group category. They have made it to finals at every competition that they have attended this year, and have placed in the top three at all of them. Considering that Centerstage! was used to hardly ever making it to finals, this year has truly been a Cinderella story for them. “I have greatly enjoyed working with these talented students this year, and I look forward to competing in Chicago and preparing for next year,” said Dale. Not only have they made a name for themselves on the stage, but they have also been featured on WDAM for their hard work and dedication. The group has been working hard to raise money for the Chicago trip. They have had several fundraisers and have had much success but still have a long way to go to reach their goal. They will be in Chicago from Thursday the 19th through Sunday the 22nd. Since this is most of the group’s first time to the windy city, they will be spending time sightseeing as well as preparing for their competition on Saturday. “I am confident in their abilities, and I know that they will represent Mississippi well,” said Dale. Be sure to wish Centerstage! good luck as they prepare to compete against 18 of the best groups in the country. “This is the biggest competition that we have ever attended,” said Williams. “Everyone is so excited to go to Chicago, and it is a perfect way to end my senior year in show choir.”

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March 2, 2012 · 12:30 pm

Student strives to make a difference at OGHS

by: Brittain Allgood

Staff Reporter

Senior Bailey Jones is hoping to leave a mark at Oak Grove High School through her Senior Exhibition of Achievement project. She has decided to begin a peer mentoring group particularly for new students. Jones has seen a struggle in our school for new kids who are just trying to fit in. “I know that if I were a new student, I would be completely intimidated by, not only the size of the school, but also the already well-established cliques that we are all fully aware of,” Jones said. It is not easy to switch schools and basically start all over, and it is especially not easy to jump into a new high school, where most of the students have grown up with the friends they already have.
The peer mentoring group will be beneficial to new students. Not only will they receive a tour of the school from a different perspective, but they will also receive a new friend. Rather than just getting a tour around the school from Mr. Folkes or any of the other principals or counselors and then simply thrown into the jungle that we call high school, the students will be able to have another student’s insight on how things work at Oak Grove. The members of the peer mentoring group will be able to tell the new students their opinions on teachers, what not to do in certain classes, Oak Grove traditions, things to do on weekends, and answer any further questions that they may have. These students would even be available to walk new students to their classes or sit with them at lunch. The main goal is for the new student to automatically feel welcome and start their first day at Oak Grove with a new friend and a positive outlook on high school.
Jones’s mentor, Mrs. Dot Palmer is a counselor at Oak Grove Primary and feels that this project could really benefit the high school: “I have not known Bailey very long, but in the amount of time that I have gotten to know her, I have been able to see a determined and responsible young lady. I know that this project means so much to her, and I know that it will not only impact others, but her as well.” In correlation with her project, Jones wrote her research paper on the effects of bullying and the psychological motivations behind it. She feels very passionate about this project because she has been in the same shoes as have many other new students. “I chose this project because I moved around a lot as a kid, and I know how it feels to be ‘the new girl’. I came to Oak Grove in the seventh grade, and it was tough back then. I can only imagine how hard it would be to be ‘the new kid’ as a high school student.”
Jones has not set a date for when the group will become official, but she has high hopes that this project will continue for years to come. She is also brainstorming the possibility of the group members, consisting of mainly seniors, juniors, and some sophomores, to have a day before each school year starts to show the upcoming freshmen around the campus and give them some useful tips. “High school is cruel, but my goal for the group is to help make the experience here at Oak Grove easier for the newcomers,” Jones said.

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February 3, 2012 · 3:01 pm

Golden Spirits bring home fourth consecutive State title

by: Brittain Allgood

On December 16, the Golden Spirits traveled to Jackson to the state dance competition, leaving with their fourth consecutive State Championship. They received 2nd place in the 6A jazz category and 1st in the 6A kick category, but it was their high-scoring kick dance that gave them the title of overall 6A Kick Champions, helping them maintain their title. Every year, the Golden Spirits attend the Mississippi High School Activities Association competition where they compete against various schools in the state. This year there were over 40 high schools competing in four different categories: jazz, pom, kick, and hip hop. For years schools in the 6A division have tried their hardest to out-dance the Golden Spirits with their dances, but none have come close. The Golden Spirits are not only recognized by other high schools but are also recognized by the University of Southern Mississippi. They will be performing their award-winning kick routine at one of the USM basketball games in February. This year was a huge difference for some of the older dancers, going from 15 dancers last year to 23 this year. “Having 23 girls was definitely a blessing in disguise,” senior Golden Spirit Catherine DeLeon said. “It was difficult to adjust, but it was worth it in the long run. Our kick lines have never looked so good!” The girls also welcomed a new sponsor this year, which added to the adjustments. Lexey Robinett, a ninth-grade English teacher and Golden Spirit coach, is more than pleased that the girls were able to keep their title. “I look forward to helping them win another one next year,” Robinett said.

The Golden Spirits dance team brought home another state title afer competing in the 2011-12 MHSAA Dance Competition held in Jackson, MS

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November 4, 2011 · 12:00 pm

Movie Review: Footloose

by: Brittain Allgood

When it comes to movies that make you want to “cut loose,” the new Footloose really does the trick. Bringing the classic film up-to-date with new dance styles, this new rendition puts into perspective how everyone should have the right to dance how they want, when they want. When watching this film, I had the sudden urge to get up and dance along with them. Everyone who watches it will hum along to the timeless tunes while enjoying the dance numbers that this movie includes.

Footloose takes place in the small town of Bomont, Georgia, where everyone knows your name. Like any other town, the students enjoyed partying and dancing. One night after a big bash, four of Bomont’s brightest students were driving home when they crashed head-on into a truck. All four were killed instantly, and the entire town of Bomont was affected by the tragedy. The preacher of the local church was the father of one of the victims. He vowed to his family and to the entire city that from there on out, he would do everything he could to keep the children of Bomont safe. After the accident, the city council began to approve outrageous laws such as setting a city-wide curfew and prohibiting the purchase of beer on Sundays; however, the most outrageous law was prohibiting dancing in the city. At the time, these rules seemed fair and appropriate, but after a while, the children began to rebel against the laws. Although nothing changed, that is, until a new boy came to town. This Boston native decided that he wanted to make a difference in that city and wished to prove to others that he could succeed.

The Footloose cast portrayed their characters very well and far exceeded expectations. Kenny Wormald played Ren MacCormack better than many expected. Everyone knows that no one can replace Kevin Bacon, who played the original Ren MacCormack, but even Kevin stated over Twitter that Kenny did an excellent job. Ren MacCormack is a student originally from Boston, but when his mother dies from Leukemia, he moves to Bomont to live with his aunt and uncle. He is a selfish, stuck-up city boy in the beginning of the film, but when he begins to have feelings for Ariel, we see that he is a dynamic character in that he begins to care for others as well as the city of Bomont. Wormald has definitely become the new heartthrob of the 21st century, stealing hearts with his dance moves and strikingly good looks. Ariel Moore, played by Julianne Hough, is a goody-goody preacher’s daughter in the beginning of the story, but after her brother dies in the car crash, she begins to rebel against everything that her dad has instilled in her. She gets lost in her relationship with God, her family, and her abusive boyfriend. Meeting Ren, she realizes that she has been living the wrong life and begins to mold back into the girl her daddy once knew. Julianne Hough- who knew she could act? This triple threat is a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood, for she was able to move people with her words as well as her dancing. As tired as I am of seeing Dennis Quaid in movies, he did an excellent job of playing the over-protective preacher, Rev. Shaw Moore. The Reverend tries so hard to protect Ariel that it only pushes her away. He realizes the things that he has done and decides to be more lenient with her.

This movie had comical moments as well as serious, inspiring moments and to me, those qualities make a good movie. This is a film that I can watch a dozen times and still love. I highly recommend this movie to everyone above the age of thirteen, boys and girls.

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October 7, 2011 · 12:00 pm

Zumba dances into Oak Grove

Kriste Lewis and the 1st block girls’ fitness class shimmy and shake their way through the morning.

By: Brittain Allgood

Most students dread P.E. fitness class at Oak Grove because they know what awaits them each morning: push-ups, jumping-jacks, and of course lifting weights. Strenuous activities, such as these, are not something that most girls qualify as fun; however, girls who enroll in P.E. fitness can now look forward to a lively Zumba class every other morning. Kriste Lewis began teaching first and second blocks Zumba classes around the end of August. The coaches, who normally teach the fitness classes, were looking for something new and fresh to keep the girls entertained while maintaining their health. Anna Lauren Weeks, a freshman in the first block class, knew that the coaches were looking for an instructor and did not hesitate to ask Lewis. “She teaches Zumba at Heritage United Methodist, a church that I go to sometimes, and I knew she would do a great job at Oak Grove,” Weeks said.

Lewis has been teaching Zumba for a little over eight months and normally teaches at her church. “I have enjoyed instructing the girls here at Oak Grove. It is giving me the opportunity to work with many different age groups,” Lewis said. Zumba is a dance fitness program created by dancer and choreographer Alberto “Beto” Perez during the 1990s. The program combines Latin and international music with dance in an effort to make exercise enjoyable. Zumba is Spanish slang for “to move fast and have fun.” In these classes, participants are in constant motion. It incorporates hip-hop, samba, salsa, mambo, martial arts, Bollywood, and belly dance moves. Squats and lunges are also included in choreography in order to tone muscles; participants are burning calories while having fun. Zumba has been referred to as a party rather than a workout, which is probably why over 12 million people of all shapes and sizes take part in weekly Zumba classes in more than 125 countries.

Many of the girls have found Zumba to be a new and exciting experience. “I actually look forward to first block now that we have Zumba classes,” senior Susannah Carpenter said. “It’s a fun way to stay in shape!” The girls are beginning to memorize some of the choreography and get excited when they hear one of their favorite songs begin to play. Even other groups such as Golden Spirits and the community-based classes take part in the Zumba classes.

Lewis’s goal is to show girls that fitness can be fun rather than stressful and strenuous. “Statistics prove that Mississippi is one of the fattest states, as well as one of the laziest states, so I want people to know that they don’t have to run laps or starve themselves in order to lose weight,” Lewis said. “The classes are easy and something new to take part in.” Lewis plans to continue her instructing at Oak Grove for the remainder of the year and hopefully for years to come.

Freshman, sophomore, and junior girls: talk to your counselor about next year’s schedule for “an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.”

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April 1, 2011 · 12:46 pm

Have school uniforms really made a difference?

YES

By: Miranda Rester

Uniforms were implemented to improve students’ behavior and classroom performance, but they don’t seem to be doing such a good job.  Students are getting into even more trouble now than they did last year.  In previous years, students were scolded for wearing things such as baggy pants, long shirts, and short skirts.  Now a student may be sent home to change just for wearing the wrong color belt.
Students certainly haven’t improved their behavior because of the uniform policy.  Wearing khaki pants with a tucked in collared shirt doesn’t make a student behave differently.  We’ve all seen students misbehave, regardless of what they’re wearing.  While clothes play a part in the attention of a student, clothes do not contribute to their behavior.  Students still fight and break school rules.  The cafeteria and hallways are still filled with booming voices and obnoxiously loud shrieks.
If uniforms have done anything for the student body and faculty, they’ve made life more difficult.  Continuous “dress code checks” at the beginning of every class take away valuable class time because teachers have to walk around the classroom and correct every student’s outfit.  Students then have to go down to the office, find out if they’re in dress code, and either go home to get new clothes or go to IST or, if they’re told they are in dress code, return to class.  Not only are both the student and teacher irritated, but the teacher also has to inform his or her student of what was taught while they were going through the tedious routine that the new dress code has forced upon the school.
The uniform policy isn’t even truly uniform.  Some students are even coming to school in Jeggings, (jean leggings), and t-shirts without a teacher or administrator ever noticing.  Students walk around in a million different variations of the same outfit, and it’s almost impossible to see which students are in dress code and which are not.  That’s why many students don’t get in trouble for major violations while some are sent to the office because their pullovers are the wrong shade of gold.
If the dress code policy were better enforced, perhaps there would be a noticeable change in students.  However, the lack of enforcement and absence of specific details explaining which clothes are acceptable and which are not allowed, makes the school’s uniform policy an unnecessary hassle.

NO

By: Brittain Allgood

Last year, when students heard that we would have uniforms the following year, most began to plan rebellious protests, petitions, and flat-out reject the thought. Wearing khaki pants and tucked-in polos was not my idea of a fashion statement, either. However, we students of Oak Grove High School were forced to enter a facility of black and gold uniformity. After a month or two, students became accustomed to the embarrassment, for we realized that this nightmare was not going away anytime soon. Actually, I believe that students realized uniforms weren’t as bad as they had made it out to be. I think that uniforms have been extremely beneficial. Not having to wake up early to decide what to wear has given my snooze button more meaning. The biggest decision we have to make is what color to wear, black or gold? Girls always want to look their best. They must turn heads when walking down the halls, so I can understand how uniforms may take away from their spotlight. However, it is extremely easy to make our dull uniforms into cute outfits without violating dress code. Adding accessories such as earrings, necklaces, or headbands can give the most boring outfit a little something extra. Also, girls can add a cute cardigan, scarf, or belt to any outfit. Therefore, I do not agree with people when they say that uniforms “take away a person’s style.” Boys wear polos and khakis anyway, so why complain when nothing has changed? Most students feel that uniforms have not made a difference in our school. They believe that having uniforms could never decrease chaos, resolve conflicts, or even reduce the number of fights; however, last year, there were over three fights on school grounds in one day. Since uniforms have been implemented, there have been only a small number of fights that have taken place. Being one of the best schools in the state of Mississippi, we must show extreme loyalty to our Blue Ribbon school, and wearing our school’s colors daily is a great way to display our terrific Warrior Pride. The students of Oak Grove have adapted to the uniform system, and we have grown as a student body because of it.

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· 12:29 pm

How-To do laundry, deal with a bad date, and jump-off a car

How To Do Laundry

By: Brittain Allgood

Graduating from high school and starting a new year in college brings on responsibilities that some students may not be prepared for. College students, who live on campus, will be required to do their own laundry without the help of their moms and dads. It is important that students know the correct way to do laundry so this timely task will become an easy chore.

Step 1: Create three separate stacks: towels, light clothes, and dark clothes. Check labels for dry clean or hand wash instructions.

Step 2: For towels, choose the following settings: heavy duty, high spin, and hot/cold. For light and dark clothes, choose the following settings: normal, medium or high spin, warm/cold. You can use cold water only to use less electricity.

Step 3: When choosing a detergent, check if the washing machine is High Efficiency (H.E). If so, look for a detergent with H.E. on the label.  Press start!

Step 4: Dry your clothes on normal setting. For towels, do a timed dry (60 minutes). Remove promptly to avoid wrinkles.

How To Deal With A Bad Date

By: Ashley Ricks

We see it on movies, TV shows, and (unfortunately) some of us have experienced it: the disaster date. We all want to sit down and eat dinner, maybe see a movie, with Mr. or Mrs. Right and watch as sparks fly. But what do you do when the spark is a rancid fire and there’s no way to escape? There are infinite “deal breakers” that can turn a hope-to-be night to remember into a night that all you want to do is forget. Well, here is your map to the emergency exits.

The Narcissist: It may be an obvious answer, but it’s the only one that will shine a little hope on the night: change the subject as quick as you can. Talk about friends, family, anything and anyone you can to get the subject off of the other person. Once the conversation veers to another subject, it will make the night a little more bearable. You never know, you could even find something in common.

The Shy One: If you know that your date is shy, try to pick a location that he or she will automatically be comfortable in. The pair of you could go see a movie, giving you something to discuss after, or keep it low key and casual, taking less pressure off of the other person. Don’t give up. It takes some time to warm up and get the sparks flying. The most important thing is to keep the energy up. Try to converse over subjects that you know will interest the other person and keep the date from going down the drain.

The Worrier: Try to pull off your own version of cool, calm and collected as possible. Your relaxed attitude could show your date that there’s no need to be nervous and just have a good time. Keep the conversation light, and the date could take a surprisingly enjoyable turn.

How to Jump-Off a Car

By: Anna Kate Baygents

With the senior class about to head off to college, there are a few things they need to learn. Car maintenance, specifically how to jump off a dead car, is something that most students don’t know how to do. Here are step-by-step instructions for those times when your daddy can’t get there in time.

Step 1: Find a friend’s car that can be pulled about two feet in front of yours. Pop the hoods.

Step 2: Find jumper cables. Each end has black and red clips. Be sure to never let the ends touch each other while any part is connected to the battery.

Step 3: Connect one of the black clips to to the black (negative) knob on your battery, and the red to the red (positive) knob. Do the same for the other knob.

Step 4: Once connected, crank both cars and let them run for a few seconds. Carefully remove the cables and close the hoods.

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March 4, 2011 · 12:15 pm

Upgrade/Downgrade

By: Brittain Allgood

Can you hear me now? Well now all Verizon Wireless customers can hear crystal clear with the best phone on the market. Apple’s best-selling iPhone 4 is America’s favorite “toy” that everyone desires to have. Many AT&T customers say that they love the iPhone but do not love AT&T. Now customers can enjoy the attributes of the iPhone with full bars almost anywhere in the country and users at AT&T can switch to Verizon’s iPhone for better coverage and high-speed internet. AT&T needs to step up their game if they want to continue to be the “champion” of cell phone companies.
Verizon welcoming the iPhone: Upgrade

When you hear the lunch bells ring, it would be in your best interest to move out of the way because hungry students show no mercy, when running through the halls to their feast. Although, “feast” is probably not the most fitting word now that First Lady Michelle Obama is considering condensing our lunch portions at school. Does she really think that this will help with our obesity issues? This will only increase the amount that students eat. We already receive very small portions, forcing us to purchase extra. Condensing portion sizes even more that they already are will only increase the amount of money we spend on extra food. The First Lady needs to understand that there are other options rather than starving students across the country, and hopefully she will realize this before she makes any drastic decisions.
Michelle Obama condensing school lunch portions: Downgrade

For Punxsutawney Phil, it was another ordinary Groundhog’s Day. Although he was unaware of the excitement he would soon stir up, he peered out of his hole on February 2nd to find that his shadow was no where to be found.This means that we will have an early Spring. With the crazy weather patterns and the early dismissals from school, everyone is overjoyed to bring out their sandals and shorts a little earlier this year. In the past two weeks, we have had beautiful, sunny weather that has given everyone a reason to pull out the swim suits and soak up the sun. Hopefully, with Phil’s good luck, we will have many more sunny days to look forward to.
The groundhog not seeing his shadow: Upgrade

The Grammy Awards is always something to look forward to. This year viewers, audience members, and nominees alike patiently awaited the “Best New Artist” award, only to find out that the winner was Esperanza Spalding. Of course, the entire nation was shocked with these results; especially when you have great nominees such as Drake, Justin Bieber, Florence & The Machine, and Mumford and Sons. Although I am not partial to the “Bieber Fever,” I would have much rather seen him walk away with the Grammy, rather than Ms. Spalding take the floor with her outrageous hair-do and her shocked appearance. Most viewers, myself included, do not even know who she is, or how to pronounce her name. Where in the world did Esperanza Spalding come from and how did she win? These are questions that many viewers would like to know the answers to.
Esperanza spalding winning Best New Artist: Downgrade

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February 4, 2011 · 11:54 am

OGHS varsity basketball dunks way to district tournament

By: Brittain Allgood

Oak Grove basketball games have become nail-biting, exciting events this season. The teams have yet to disappoint their fans as they dunk their way to victories. With the girl’s record at 12-10 and the boy’s at 11-10, varsity boy’s and girl’s basketball have had a successful season, thus far; however, their season has only begun. With their tournament around the corner, both teams have been working laboriously to achieve their ultimate goal. Varsity basketball teams will compete to win their District Tournament on February 7-11 at Brandon High School. The boys and girls both practice their sets, run laps, and watch previous games to learn from mistakes that might have been made to improve their skills for the tournament and also for the playoffs. Coach Swindle, the varsity girls’ coach, and Coach Bradley, the varsity boys’ coach, have been pushing their players every step of the way in hopes of carrying out their hard work all the way to the playoffs. “I believe these girls have the capability to win the District Tournament,” Swindle said. “We have had six games where we’ve struggled, but I am pleased with the girls’ efforts; hopefully, these next few games will help the girls better prepare themselves for the tournament.” Playing two overtime games, these girls proved their strength and proved that they have a fighting chance at the tournament. The girls and Coach Swindle both believe that Hattiesburg High School will be their biggest competition at the tournament, but they are not going to give up without a fight. With just a few games left, the teams have absolutely no room for laziness.
The boys all agree that their practices have become much harder as they inch closer to the tournament. “Practices have to be much more difficult and effective to prepare and perfect all of our plays and sets,” varsity boys player Connor McNellis said. They also believe that Brandon High School will be another tough win to pull through. “We play them first, and if we win that game, we will go to playoffs,” McNellis said. The boys had a terrific win against Hattiesburg, but fell short when playing Meridian; however, they did not let a loss get to their heads. This has pushed them to work harder. Both teams plan to play their hardest and hopefully win the tournament to advance to the playoffs.  With hard work and the support of their family and fans, they are sure to succeed. Be sure to give the varsity boys and girls a pat on the back and wish them good luck, as each team plays their last home game and as they gear up for the District Tournament.

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December 15, 2010 · 2:02 pm

Cheer and dance prepare to take state

By: Brittain Allgood

With Christmas break right around the corner, students prepare themselves for semester exams; for the football cheerleaders and Golden Spirits, they spend these few weeks perfecting and cleaning their routines for the MHSAA competition on December 17-18. Both the cheerleaders and Golden Spirits are two-time state champions, and both plan to maintain their title for the 2010-2011 year. The cheerleaders have been working strenuously throughout the summer but started the routine closer to the beginning of the school year. With 12 freshmen, the team has grown, not only in number but also in strength. The entire squad can do running tucks, which was not conceivable last year. They have also added new and improved stunts that will surely blow the judges away. To better themselves, the cheerleaders run suicides and practice their stunts to build stamina and endurance. Laura Lightsey, cheer coach and sponsor, pushes and encourages the girls every step of the way and has full confidence in their ability to succeed.
“I do feel like our squad can successfully win another state title this year as long as we can work together and stay relaxed,” Brittney Hiatt, senior cheer co-captain said. “This is probably the most talented group of girls that has come through Oak Grove, so I hope we can bring home another title!” The girls competed in the Dixieland Championship on December 11 and earned a bid to nationals to be held February 12-14, 2011, in Orlando, FL.
The Golden Spirits have always specialized in jazz and kick, and this year is no exception. They begin every early morning practice with kicks to gain stamina and flexibility. The cheerleaders may start their routine early in the season, but the Golden Spirits have a different strategy for success. They completed their jazz routine during summer break, but did not start their kick routine until a week after Thanksgiving. The girls say they work well under pressure and, learning a dance this close to state, drives them to work harder. Losing a powerful teammate, Andie Arthur, in the middle of the semester left the girls in a bind. Fixing formations with an odd number of girls is not an easy task for a choreographer. Tracey Oglesby, Golden Spirits coach and sponsor, cuts no slack when working towards victory. “This is a very motivated group of girls,” said Oglesby. “They work hard – especially under pressure. I am extremely confident in this team.” Winning first place with their jazz routine at a local invitational on November 13, the Golden Spirits feel confident with this dance, giving them more time to concentrate on their kick routine. Both teams have been working equally hard for their ultimate goal and will continue to work until they strut onto the competition floor. Be sure to wish the girls good luck as they spend the next week practicing and cleaning their routines.

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