Athletics News

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Notre Dame Prep D2 Pom competitive team is ready for their turn. After six months of training, they will compete in the AIA Division II Pom competition at Poston Butte High School for a chance to qualify for the state championships.

“I am really excited because we have put in so much work in practice to finally have it pay off and show what we are doing for the past few months,” said sophomore Elle Jameson.

For Jameson it is her first year on the competitive team. In fact, all eight girls will be competing for the first time for Notre Dame Prep. The eight-person team includes freshman Hailey Budenbender, junior Zoe Chong, freshman Addison Cote, Jameson, junior Ainsley Montgomery, freshman Savannah Paul, junior Rylee Slagle, junior Marissa Valentini and freshman Lucia Wallen. The team is coached by Head Coach Brie Dragonetti and assistant Janice Cutright.

“We are really excited, and it is a brand-new team,” said Dragonetti. “It is going to be a new experience for all of them. They are so excited to represent the school and be the competition team. We are excited to see what happens on Saturday.”

This season has been different for the Pom just like all high school sports. Delays to the schedule have allowed the team more time to prepare and bond.

“It is really exciting because you feel like you are very prepared for it and you (also) have time to get excited with your team and get to know them,” said Jameson of the delayed schedule. “It is more nerve-wracking and difficult because you put in so much hard work you want it to pay off and do well.”

The team will perform at 5:40 p.m. in a room with just the judges American Idol style with no fans. The performances will be live streamed on the NFHS Network. The top seven schools advance to the state championships.

“The routine is very hard and tiring with lots of tricks, skills and flexibility showing our specialties,” said Jameson, who has danced for 13 years. “It would mean so much to us because we have put in so much time and effort. We are a new team this year and we have become very close. We want to make it and show what we have got.”

The team has put in the extra effort and hard work towards the competition and is ready to do their best on Saturday. Dragonetti said the sharpness and the attack on the motions to hep their routine stand out.

“It is awesome we get to represent our school and our school spirit,” said Jameson. “We have to have a lot of school spirit and that is what Pom is really all about.”

Schedule

https://www.aiaonline.org/files/17349/spiritline-schedule-2621.pdf

Live Stream

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/aia/gam7f1aee8d0e